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I just saw a lemur in eldo

Original Post
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186

No shit, my buddy saw it too. We were doin' Ruper after dark and all of a sudden this fox sized mammal of some sort starts sneaking up on us. It was grayish white with hands and a long tail with ring like black stripes. No drugs / alcohol were involved. Anybody seen something similar?

Ps. It was not a squirrell.

Jeff Stephens · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 80
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186

Yes that's exactly what it was. What is that ?

Jeff Stephens · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 80
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186

Also very similar.

Jeff Stephens · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 80

You saw a ringtail, you lucky person!

j sittler · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 0
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rin…

Like everyone said, sounds like a ring-tailed cat, member of the raccoon family. Awesome spot I'm jealous!
Dave Bohn aka "Old Fart" · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2002 · Points: 285

Ring-Tail for sure, and a very cool sighting.

Ben Walburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 680

Super cool, I'll keep my eyes open.

ShireSmitty · · WP · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 70

Nice! You guys are lucky. I've seen tons of Ringtails in Yosemite but never in Eldo. A fox did approach within 10 feet of my car last night though at the parking lot just below the Bastille.

phil wortmann · · Colorado Springs, Co. · Joined Feb 2005 · Points: 1,186

That's what they are? I saw one of those in the Garden of the Gods over ten years ago and never knew what it was.

Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265

I've seen one at night while I was down climbing the big chimney to the left of The Bomb on Wind Ridge (Boulder Direct?). I tried to get a pic but my phone camera was accidentally switched to the front-facing camera so I couldn't turn on my flash. The little thing bolted before I could figure out my problem. He was an efficient little climber.

Erik Hopkins · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 0

saw one of these guys last night on the road into eldo. cool sighting

also lots of bear scat (poo) on the trails around eldo almost daily

James Beissel · · Boulder, CO · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 905

For those of you lucky enough, would you mind taking a moment to add your observation to my newly created iNaturalist project?

inaturalist.org/projects/co…

Records of ringtails in Boulder County are scarce. In fact, I have only been able to confirm one record prior to 2014. It seems like this year sightings have increased, especially in Eldo and the Flatirons. Because they are nocturnal and like to hang out on steep rock faces, they are difficult to study and therefore climbers have an opportunity to provide valuable data. This data may help document existing populations or indicate an expansion of range.

I became interested in ringtails about 2 years ago when I created a tick list of animals that I wanted to see and photograph in Colorado. I always knew ringtails would be a challenge, but I never expected to see one in Boulder! About two weeks ago, I saw my first one up Gregory Canyon:



I really enjoy this species and sharing it with people who might not have heard of it - they seem so exotic. If you ever get to see one, they are beautiful, curious, and seem to like offwidths. I think it is because they fit perfectly into the cracks and nothing that is a threat can pursue them.

Keep an eye out for scat on belay ledges and topouts. It looks like little sausages and sometimes the ends are pointed. If you see some, maybe stick around until an hour after dark or so (provided you can do so safely...duh) and maybe you'll see a couple of orange eyes glowing at you from a 6" crack.
Jason Halladay · · Los Alamos, NM · Joined Oct 2005 · Points: 15,153

Super cool. Ringtails are impressive. We sighted one at the Enchanted Tower of southern New Mexico a couple years ago and I had no idea they lived around there.

Omar the ring-tailed cat checks out the action on the Tower. July 2012.

Laine Christman · · Reno, NV · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 1,305

These cute little rock masters are prevalent in the canyons of Red Rock, NV. I've spotted them on numerous occasions while doing some clandestine camping or unexpected bivying. Total ninja style, they are!

germsauce Epstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 55

seen them all over potrero chico, but had no idea they lived here in the front range. pretty cool.

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

Not so uncommon down in Cochise Stronghold (woke up with one on my sleeping bag once) but never seen one here. Cool to hear they are being verified as present now!

Max Supertramp · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 95

those cute little dudes are apt to develop some serious human-food-theft issues if not dealt with carefully. good luck little ringtails of eldo!

Ben · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2003 · Points: 10

Are you sure it wasn't Mic Fairchild?

Matt Pierce · · Poncha Springs, CO · Joined May 2010 · Points: 312

I saw one of these at the top of the Bomb a few weeks ago - we were coming down in the dark - thought it was a racoon...

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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