The Cacomistle is nocturnal, arboreal, and solitary. It feeds on fruits, insects, and probably small vertebrates. It uses the middle and upper levels of tropical forests. It is found in both montane and lowland rain forest, in wet evergreen forest as well as seasonally dry forest, scrub, and secondary forest (Glatston 1994).

The species occurs from Mexico (Guerrero and south Veracruz) through Mesoamerica to central Panama (Lake Bayano). Its occurrence is unknown in Nicaragua and very few records exist for Costa Rica (J. González-Maya pers. comm. 2015).

The Cacomistle is listed in CITES Appendix III by Costa Rica, and it is also listed as an endangered species in Costa Rica. In Belize it is covered by the Wildlife Protection Act. It is not protected by law in Panama. Elsewhere the situation is unknown. Cacomistles are known to occur in the proposed Volcano Baro National Park in Panama, in the Monte Cristo National Park in El Salvador and in the Cockscomb Basin Reserve in Belize and may be living in a number of protected areas where there is suitable habitat (Glatston 1994).