Ring-tailed cat

North American Katzenfrett ( Bassariscus astutus )

The North American Katzenfrett ( Bassariscus astutus ) is a Kleinbär from the kind of Katzenfrette ( Bassariscus ).

Features

The North American Katzenfrett is characterized by a brownish fur on the body and by a conspicuous bushy tail with 14 to 16 black-and- white rings. The large violet eyes are surrounded by rings of lighter fur. With a head-body length of 30 to 42 cm, a tail length 31-44 cm and a weight of 0.8 to 1.4 kg, the North American Katzenfrett is slightly smaller than a house cat. The short claws can only be partially canceled.

Distribution and habitat

The species lives in the U.S. states of California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Utah and northern and central Mexico. In the Mexican states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Veracruz, the distribution area overlaps with the occurrence of sister species means American Katzenfrett ( Bassariscus sumichrasti ). As Habitat serve dry forests, rocky regions and deserts with scattered trees or bushes. The nest is usually in tree hollows, crevices, abandoned building from other animals or dense vegetation retention.

This classified Bears hold generally at an altitude of up to 1,400 m, but were already at altitudes up to 2,900 m sighted.

Way of life

The North American Katzenfrett is an omnivore that feeds on, among other fruits, berries, insects, lizards, and small rodents and birds. It is a nocturnal animal and the families living outside the mating season separately. With their vocalizations animals remember raccoons.

The species has few natural enemies such as owls, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in spring from February to May After about 50 days of gestation are one to five pups, which are initially blind. The male supplies the female with food during her pregnancy. The boys open their eyes after about a month ( 21 to 34 days) and with about four months (60 to 100 days), they begin their first hunt tests. Sexual maturity occurs after approximately ten months. In the wild the animals can reach an age of seven years.

North American Katzenfrett and people

According to various reports can be individuals well tame and use for hunting mice. American settlers and miners often had a copy to keep their home free from harmful animals. Therefore, the type was given the English name of " miner's cat", even if it was not a cat. Normally bassarisk received a box in a warmer place to sleep on. Through a hole in the box, the animal was his nightly forays begin.

The type is the official mammal ( State Mammal ) of the State of Arizona.

The population is comparatively large, and so this Kleinbär will " not endangered " by the IUCN as listed (Least Concern ).