Unknown ring tailed mammal

[SaraAndrew]

My husband and I on separate occasions recently spotted a small mammal (smaller than a cat bigger than a squirrel) scurrying across the road into the hedgerow with a ringed tail, we live on in Powys not far from the Shropshire border, does anyone have any ideas what it might be? Thanks Sara

[ron1863]

Hi and a warm welcome to WAB. The only animal I can think of is the Ring Tailed Lemur but I doubt it was that.
Could it have been a small cat, as they often have ring like markings on their tails

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Sara, How long was its tail in relation to its body? Roughly how may rings did it have? How did it move, like a cat would? What was it's general colour?

Sorry for all the questions , sometimes its a little detail that doesn't seem important that can make all the difference.

[Hobjob]

Could it have been a stoat with a black tip and then a bit paler before the normal colour stoat coat?

[Jim Ford]

I understand raccoons have established themselves in some parts of the country.

Jim

[RobinP]

Could be a Coati, escaped from some zoo or collection.

[Dogghound]

Alot of captive mammals escape each year so I would guess its one of these. Can you give a better description?

[natureguy]

Originally Posted by ron1863

The only animal I can think of is the Ring Tailed Lemur but I doubt it was that

This was my first thought an escapee of some kind. Are you anywhere near Cefn-Yr-Erw?

eta sorry just read your the other side. Is there anywhere near you where it could have escaped from?

[Paisley Patriot]

I actually saw an animal similiar to the one you describe last week here in Scotland. It ran in front of my car at around 1am on the A736 Lochlibo Road between Lugton and Burnhouse. I immediately thought it was a cat, but it had a ringed tail and didn't seem to move like a cat. Haven't seen anything like that around here before.

[~T~]

It does sound like a coatimundi

Coati numbers on the increase in Cumbria (From The Westmorland Gazette)