The cacomitzli is a predatory mammal of the raccoon family that inhabits the southern, southwestern United States and Mexico. Despite their predatory nature, cacomitzli are not too demanding of terrain and can settle in a wide variety of terrain, from rocky terrain to coniferous or oak forests.
Cockomitzli can feed on either plants or animals. They prefer the latter and may hunt insects, mice, squirrels, and rabbits. Because of their efficient rodent hunting, cacomitzli have often been domesticated for this very reason.
The digestive system of the cockamouse is quite strong – they can eat carrion if they fail to catch live prey. These animals are active at dusk and at night, but during the day they go to nests in tree hollows, cracks in rocks, caves, or abandoned houses.
Each male of the cockatiel occupies a large territory of 80-130 hectares, female “possessions” are not so large. The lands of males cannot overlap, but such overlap between females and males occurs not infrequently. Cockamouse live singly, but sometimes they gather in flocks, mostly those that have changed their entire way of life because of close proximity to people. Such animals can eat at garbage dumps and generally live like stray dogs.
Interestingly, cacomitzli do not like the heat and prefer to rest in their nests during the day. They are also territorial animals and can form pairs during the mating season.
Although they are not particularly well-studied animals, cacomizzles play an important role in the ecosystem of the region where they live. According to scientists, they help control the rodent population and are an important link in the food chain.
