At The Wildlife Management Company, we specialize in the humane removal and prevention of nuisance wildlife across Austin, the Highland Lakes region, and all of Central Texas—including the elusive and charming Ringtail Cat. Although they’re native to Texas and fascinating animals, ringtails can cause real problems when they find their way into homes, attics, and crawl spaces.

Here’s what you need to know about these creatures, the risks they pose, and how we can help solve the problem safely and effectively.

Despite their name, Ringtail Cats (Bassariscus astutus) are not actually cats—they are members of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). Sometimes called “miner’s cats” or “civet cats,” ringtails are small, agile mammals with distinctively long, bushy, black-and-white ringed tails.

Biological Facts:

• Size: About 24 to 32 inches long (including the tail); weigh 1 to 2 pounds.
• Lifespan: 6 to 9 years in the wild; longer in captivity.
• Reproduction: Breed once a year, usually in early spring. Females give birth to 2-4 young after a 50–60 day gestation.
• Habitat: Native to arid and semi-arid regions, ringtails are highly adaptable and often found in rocky areas, canyons, wooded riparian zones—and increasingly, urban environments like Austin and surrounding Central Texas communities.
• Food Habits: Opportunistic omnivores, feeding on rodents, insects, small birds, fruits, and occasionally pet food left outdoors.

Ringtails are natural climbers, thanks to their semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that can rotate 180 degrees. In urban areas like Austin, they often seek shelter in:

• Attics
• Wall voids
• Crawl spaces
• Garages and sheds

They are drawn to homes for protection from predators (like owls and coyotes), warmth, and easy access to food sources.

Once inside, a ringtail can be difficult to detect at first due to their nocturnal and secretive nature. However, their presence can quickly cause serious issues.

While they may look adorable, ringtails inside your home can create a variety of problems, including:

• Damage to insulation, ductwork, and wiring (posing fire hazards)
• Feces and urine accumulation leading to strong odors and potential health hazards
• Entry damage to roofs, soffits, and vents as they claw and squeeze through openings
• Noise disturbances at night—scratching, thumping, and scampering sounds

Their waste products can also carry diseases like leptospirosis and salmonella, creating additional concerns for your family and pets.

The Wildlife Management Company offers safe, humane, and professional solutions for ringtail problems. Our services include:

• Inspection and identification of entry points
• Live trapping and relocation following Texas regulations
• Exclusion services such as repairing soffits, sealing vents, and fortifying potential access points
• Cleanup and sanitation of contaminated areas to eliminate odors and reduce disease risk

Our team of trained wildlife biologists understands the specific behaviors of ringtails in Austin, Marble Falls, Llano, Fredericksburg, Horseshoe Bay, and other Central Texas communities. We combine modern technology with time-tested methods to ensure effective, lasting solutions.

• Ringtails can climb vertically up walls and shimmy into incredibly tight spaces.
• They were once so valued by miners and settlers for rodent control that they were kept as pets in frontier cabins!
• Ringtails have excellent night vision and hearing, making them superb nighttime hunters.

If you suspect a ringtail has moved into your attic, don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Trust the local experts at The Wildlife Management Company for fast, humane removal and exclusion services.

We proudly serve Austin, Llano, Marble Falls, Fredericksburg, Horseshoe Bay, Burnet, and the entire Highland Lakes region.

Contact us today at 512-364-1523 or visit www.thewildlifemanagementcompany.com to schedule an inspection!