Scat of Ringtail cat, Bassariscus astutus, filled with iridescent exoskeleton parts of the fiery searcher ground beetle, Calosoma scrutator. The ringtail is a relative of the raccoon and is sometimes incorrectly called ringtail cat. Another local name for it is cacomistle. Fiery searchers secrete a noxious fluid when attacked that protects them from many predators, but seems ineffective against ringtails. Ringtails range over a large area of the Southwest, preferring rocky habitats. They mark their territory by placing their scat in conspicuous places, as on the dirt road where this one was photographed. Photo taken Parker Co., TX