Ringtail v. Raccoon

Both animals make latrines. Diet can be similar as both eat fruit and meat. Raccoons tend to place scat latrines at the base of a tree or in the fork of a tree's branches. Ringtails are known to deposit scats on top of rocks, etc. Raccoon scats tend to be smooth on the outsides and more tubular at times. They sometimes have a very smooth outside to them. Ringtail scats can vary, but often are more twisted or have twists in them. They sometimes have tapered ends, but that's not predictable with either species. Ringtails are known to prefer riparian areas, as are raccoons. The only really sure way to tell apart is by the tracks themselves, but scats can be placed into groups somewhat. Hope that helps.

Thank you @biohexx1 ! Ringtails are high on my list of species that almost certainly occur at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at least occasionally, but which we haven't documented. And raccoons are certainly in the park but not commonly observed. I'll be keeping a new eye out for scat that could be from one or the other.

eDNA would be a fantastic way to confirm them. If there are any good riparian areas with substrate that shows tracks well, some track surveys might be in order too.