Hiker Breathless After Encountering A Rarely-Seen Animal In Phoenix
Hiking offers many benefits. Not only is it great for your mental and physical health, but it also allows you to experience stunning sights you don’t often see, such as the beauty of wildlife.
Jacqueline Hurst, an experienced hiker, knows this well. Throughout her life, she has gone on many hiking adventures, but the most recent one will remain in her memory forever.
It all started when she hiked Phoenix’s Piestewa Peak. On one of the trails, she noticed an animal moving among the rocks. At first, she didn’t think much of it, as she often sees various animals during her hikes.
However, when she saw the animal’s tail, she was left breathless…
A Rare Encounter
The moment Jacqueline saw the tail, she instantly recognized the animal. She said in an interview:
“I saw that unmistakable beautiful tail.”
It turned out that the animal sitting just a few feet away from Jacqueline was a ringtail, Arizona’s state mammal.
This stunning yet rarely-seen creature was sitting near some shrubs, enjoying a small piece of fruit.
About The Ringtails
So what kind of animal is a ringtail anyway? Ringtails actually look similar to house cats, but they’re actually part of the raccoon family. Just like raccoons, ringtails have fluffy, stripped tails.
These animals are native to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico, however, though not endangered, the ringtails are rarely seen.
Jacqueline was very fortunate to see one in person.
What’s most interesting is that she’s hiked Piestewa Peak nearly 100 times, yet this was only the second time she had ever seen a ringtail. She said:
“They tend to avoid humans. I really hadn’t expected to ever see one again.”
The reason why ringtails are so rare to see is because they’re mostly nocturnal. They have large eyes and remarkable vision that help them see at night.
Jacqueline spotted this tiny mammal just as the sun was coming up. She added:
“Very few people have been lucky enough to ever see one in person.”
While watching the ringtail on the trail, Jacqueline held her breath in awe. She managed to take a few quick photos and a video of this extraordinary animal.
She couldn’t believe how close she was to such a special creature. She said:
“They’re quite small, and certainly very cute.”
A Concern For Their Safety
Despite her excitement, Jacqueline began to worry about the ringtail’s safety. When wild animals become habituated to humans, it can be dangerous for them. She shared:
“Unfortunately, I think one of the reasons that this particular ringtail was still active after sunrise is likely because some hikers are either leaving food behind or actually feeding the ringtails. I think people believe they are doing a good thing, but they’re not.”
After a while, the ringtail ran off to its hiding spot, and Jacqueline continued her hike, knowing this unforgettable encounter would stay with her forever.
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