David Zapatka
After friends recently hiked in the Chiricahua National Monument, I read this in a news article: “Wilcox, Ariz.—A merry troupe of coatis moms and babies were spotted along a road in Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona. Cousins of raccoons, the playful coatis gathered and excitedly squeaked with their tails shooting straight up like puppet strings. The furry critters then dispersed, scurrying off to the other side of the road and disappearing into the shrub. Coatis are always on the move as they forage for their feast. The animals use their long snouts and flexible noses to dig and root out insects, snakes, and lizards, and they use their climbing skills to reach tasty berries, nuts, and birds’ eggs. Female coatis and their young typically live in bands, and they are joined by males during mating season, the National Park Service (NPS) said. These gatherings at Chiricahua National Monument often occur on roads, so the NPS advises park visitors to please drive carefully and to follow speed limits.”
Coati co·a·ti noun—any of several tropical American mammals (genera Nasua and Nasuella) related to the raccoon but with a longer body and tail and a long flexible snout.
Origin and Etymology—Portuguese quati, coati, from Tupi kwati
First Known Use—1676
Recent Examples on the web:
The video shows tiny coati along with larger ones running from one side of the road to the other, showing off their long tails and agile strides, rangers said.—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Susan Perry, an anthropologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study, described witnessing the animals torturing coati pups before eating them alive in Costa Rica.—Elizabeth Landau, New York Times, 19 May 2025
While visitors to Reserva Conchal can spot iconic Costa Rican animals like the mantled howler monkey, white-nosed coati, and elegant trogon during a visit, the property has also mastered the art of hospitality, with two prestigious hotels located within its boundaries.—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The coati is a civet-like animal native to Central and South America and is related to the Asian civet.—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Sometimes a coati, a javelina, or a roadrunner shows up in the parking lot.—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
And for Johnny the coati, a distant relative of the raccoon, that means enticing him with a spoonful of honey inside of a plastic container, prompting him to stick his head inside while a vet administers the vaccine.—San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2021
And here was the print of a coati.—Guest, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2015
Have you hiked in the Chiricahua National Monument? It’s beautiful. I recommend it.
Where have you seen coatis? Please submit your experiences or any word you may like to share along with your insights and comments to dzapatka@wbhsi.net.