In color, ringtails are yellowish gray above, gray below, with a prominent white eye ring. The tail is tipped with black. R ingtails are mammals of the desert Southwest and mostly occur in southern Colorado, although they have been seen along the foothills of the Front Range and along the major canyons of the Western Slope.
Typical habitat is canyon and mesa country, and most sightings are near water.
In fact, the first reports of ringtails in an area often are of animals caught in traps set for mink. R ingtails are remarkably agile climbers. The spectacular tail helps them balance. Their ankles can rotate to let them go headfirst down a cliff or tree. They forage exclusively at night, feeding on mice, birds and insects.