The tayra, the acrobat of the forest: our animal of the month

You are walking along a trail when something dark, long, and agile crosses your path, climbs onto a log, and disappears into the branches. It wasn’t a cat, a dog, or a giant squirrel. It might have been a tayra. This month, the tayra (*Eira barbara*) is the "Animal of the Month" on the Reserva Caoba blog—a fascinating, little-known animal that is very easy to overlook.

Who is it?

The tayra is a carnivore belonging to the mustelid family—the same family as otters, weasels, and badgers; it is related to ferrets and martens, not to dogs or cats. It is the only species in the genus *Eira*. It is known by various names—such as *tolomuco*, *perico ligero*, *motete*, *irara*, *viejo de monte*, and *hurón mayor*—depending on the country and region.

How is it?

It has a body length of 60 to 70 cm, plus a long, furry tail measuring 35 to 45 cm, and weighs between 3 and 6 kg. It has a slender body, a long neck, long claws, and prominent fangs. It is dark brown—almost black—in color, with a slightly lighter head and often a light-colored patch on the throat. Males and females look alike.

Where does it live?

It ranges from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, and is also found on the island of Trinidad; Colombia lies within its natural range. It inhabits humid and dry tropical forests, secondary forests, and plantations, ranging from the lowlands up to elevations of approximately 2,000 or 2,400 meters. It roosts in hollow logs or abandoned burrows and tolerates human-altered landscapes, provided there is tree cover.

How does it behave?

- It is primarily diurnal, which (slightly) increases your chances of spotting it.

- It moves about alone or in pairs, and sometimes in groups of three or four.

- It is an excellent climber. On the ground, it moves by bounding with its back arched; in the trees, it uses its tail as a counterbalance and leaps from branch to branch.

- It covers a lot of ground. Its home range spans about 24 km², and it can travel at least 6 km in a single night.

- It is elusive. If alarmed, it emits a short bark and climbs the nearest tree.

- It hunts using its sense of smell—as its eyesight is relatively poor—and pursues its prey rather than ambushing it.

What does it eat?

It is an omnivore and an opportunist. Small mammals—especially rodents—make up the bulk of its diet; it also eats reptiles, birds, insects, and carrion, and instances of predation on capuchin monkeys have been documented. It consumes a great deal of fruit: it may store unripe fruit to eat days later once it has ripened. It also takes advantage of honey; in Brazil, it is known as *papa-mel* (honey-eater).

Reproduction

Little is known. Gestation lasts 63 to 70 days, and litters consist of two or three offspring weighing about 74 to 92 grams, which nurse for two or three months. In captivity, they can live up to about 18 years.

Why is it important to take care of it?

It plays an ecological role. By preying on rodents, reptiles, and insects, it helps regulate populations. As it consumes fruit and travels long distances, it acts as a seed disperser, potentially contributing to forest regeneration. Furthermore, its presence can indicate a healthy forest.

"Least Concern" does not mean "safe." While the IUCN classifies it this way—and it is common across much of its range, ranking among the most common carnivores in parts of South America—Animal Diversity Web notes that in Mexico, agricultural expansion, forest loss, and hunting have significantly reduced its populations; older sources even classified the Mexican subspecies as vulnerable. It is also listed in CITES Appendix III.

Threats include deforestation and habitat fragmentation (since it travels long distances, it requires connected forests), hunting due to accusations of attacking chicken coops (though the damage is usually minimal), road accidents, and keeping the animal as a pet—a practice that requires a permit in Colombia and fuels illegal trafficking.

What can you do?

1. Protect and reforest using native species, maintaining connected forest corridors.

2. Secure your chicken coop—especially at night—rather than chasing the animal.

3. Do not buy or accept wildlife; if you are offered a young animal, notify the environmental authorities.

4. Drive carefully through wooded areas during the day. 5. Observe from a distance; do not feed or approach the animal.

6. Record your sighting—including a photo, date, and location—on platforms like iNaturalist.

The tayra lacks the imposing presence of the jaguar, yet it reminds us that a healthy forest is teeming with inconspicuous species that quietly sustain the life of everything else. When one appears before us, it is as if the forest were telling us that all is well.

At Caoba, we have been fortunate enough to spot tayras not only on our trails but also on our camera traps. They are a sign that the forest we have been restoring is alive. We invite you to visit us: your stay contributes to the conservation of this ecosystem and, in doing so, to the protection of the tayra and all the species that share its home.

We invite you to be part of our "Animal of the Month" feature. If you’ve spotted a tayra on your walks, let us know where and when in the comments or send us your photo via social media. Share this with a nature lover and come visit the forest at Reserva Caoba. See you for the next "Animal of the Month"!

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