Unusual visitor found near Texas road turns out to be rare native species

A rare animal that many Texans will never see in the wild made an unexpected stop at a Central Texas sheriff's office this week.

On Monday, the Comal County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dealing with an unusual visitor: a coatimundi found near the intersection of Highway 46 and Vintage Oaks.

The exotic-looking mammal, with its long snout and ringed tail, quickly drew attention online. A TikTok posted Sunday appeared to show the same animal wandering along FM 2673 near Canyon Lake.

"I've spent a lot of time in the Hill Country, but I've never seen one of these," user @jamesdad1890 said in the video. "I don't know what this poor guy is."

White-nosed coatis, also known as coatimundis, are considered rare in Texas and are listed as a threatened species by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They are not federally listed, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the species as of least concern globally.

The animals are far more common in Mexico and Central America, but historically ranged into parts of South and West Texas, from the Brownsville area to the Big Bend region and east toward Kerr and Victoria counties. Wildlife experts say habitat loss in southern Texas has hurt populations, though more recent sightings in places such as Big Bend and Padre Island have raised hopes of a rebound.

Coatis are members of the raccoon family, which also includes ringtails. They are active during the day, unlike many other small mammals, and use their long tails for balance while climbing and moving through brush.

Though protected in Texas, coatimundis can be kept as pets with the proper permits. Some cities, including San Antonio, ban them as pets.

The mystery didn't last long. Less than an hour after posting about the animal on Facebook, the sheriff's office said its owners had been found and were on the way.

"We appreciate the community's assistance in helping us get this unique visitor safely back home," the agency wrote.

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