Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated when the rescue was made.
A Texas woman experienced quite the surprise when she rescued an injured animal last month.
The story started with a call about a lemur on May 30, the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services said.
The caller, who animal care services called “Miss U,” said the animal she stopped to help was causing quite the ruckus in her car. The woman was driving when she spotted the animal on the side of the road.It had cuts on its body, she said.
Calling the animal small and strange, she thought it must’ve been a lemur and used a towel to put it in her vehicle.
“While her intentions to help the animal were pure, the animal quickly became agitated, and Miss U had to exit her vehicle and call 3-1-1 for help to keep from getting injured,” the agency wrote. “Officer Centeno arrived shortly later and identified this animal as not a lemur but a ringtail!”
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What is a ringtail?
Ringtails are nocturnal animals native to San Antonio, animal care services said.
They typically look like a cross between a cat, fox, and lemur but they are in the same family as raccoons and coatimundis.
“Their elusive nature makes seeing them in the wild a rare treat,” the agency said in its post.
When they do leave their homes, called dens, it’s usually to eat. They eat birds, rodents, carrion, reptiles and amphibians, insects such as grasshoppers and crickets and native fruits and berries as well, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife.
The ringtail’s breeding season is in mid-spring and litters usually include two to four babies. When they are born, they can’t see or hear.
They can be found all over Texas.
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Ringtail treated for injuries, transferred to facility
The woman was able to get away from the ringtail while an officer took it out of her car. The ringtail was taken to the Animal Emergency Room to be treated for its injuries. The next day, it was transferred to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc.
The rescue center will make sure the ringtail is treated and when ready, the animal will be returned to its rightful environment.
The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services made a plea for locals to report injured wildlife to 3-1-1 if they see any wild animals who are hurt.
