This little fella was captured while on a hike in the Rio Grande National Forest. Out romping around with two others it scampered up a tree to get a better look at me. Its sleek, chocolate-brown fur gleamed in the sunlight, and those inquisitive black eyes locked at me for a fleeting moment before I captured this shot

These elusive carnivores, with their rich brown fur, cream-colored throats, and bushy tails, primarily dwell in mature, old-growth forests, using their exceptional climbing skills to hunt squirrels, birds, and small mammals among the branches, while occasionally foraging on the ground for berries or carrion. They play a key ecological role as predators, helping regulate rodent populations and contributing to forest health, but their shy nature makes sightings rare—often limited to glimpses during hikes on trails like those in the South San Juan Wilderness or near Wolf Creek Pass. Though populations have rebounded from historical fur-trapping declines, they remain sensitive to habitat loss from logging and wildfires.