Are black squirrels rare?
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on where you live. Fox squirrels are rare here and blacks are becoming more common but were never heard of here just a few years ago although I am sure some were around. Albinos are far more rare.
Black squirrels are very common and abundant here in mid-Michigan. So are taxidermists...eh? WOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!
in my yard. The weird thing is you NEVER see them out in the woods, only in urban areas around here. I live just on the edge of town and go half a mile out in the boonies and they are gone. I wonder if the black color makes them to easy for predators to spot?
I run regularly behind a local golf course abouta 1/3 mile from the ocean. I see a black squirrel on about the same spot every day. I thought i was dreaming until I looked it up on here and other people have seen them although it doesnt seem that common in SC. Anybody else out there in Sc seen black squirrels?
We have a large population of black squirrels in Omaha, Nebraska. They are, however, more prominent in an older part of town. There are black squirrels in western Iowa as well. I'm wondering if there have been any spotted in Illinois or Texas.
We have an abundance of black squirrels here in Westfield, MA. You can't drive around the downtown area without seeing a half dozen or more scurrying about. Where did they come from? Well, local legend says they were imported from Michigan as a gift to Stanley Beveridge who founded our beautiful park/nature preserve area here. The original squirrels were kept in cages and died, so replaces were brought in and released in the park and over the decades have expanded their population and moved outward into outlying areas and surrounding communities! We celebrate them here as the Ambassadors of Good Will in the city!
I lived in the town of Black Forest, Colorado back in the mid and late 70's, a suberb of Colorado Springs, and we had a HUGE population of what the local's called "Black squirrels". I still, to this day, have never seen them listed in any books or magazines, and they seem to be a distinct, and very "isolated" species of their own, however, their body shape is identical, including the "tufted" ear tips, to the unusual looking squirrels seen in the Grand Canyon area of Arizona, known as the "Kaibob" sqirrel. They, (or at least the ones I saw), were black or grey, with a white tail. I strongly suspect that the Black squirrels found in Black Forest, Colorado, are in fact, a very closely related species, and perhaps even the SAME species, but just another color morph. It was said that the Black squirrels found in Colorado were found nowhere else on Earth, so this may explain why I have never found any literature on that species.
I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows more about the squirrel species in question. I should also note, that while living in that area of Colorado, I witnessed two different color mutations of the same species, but only ONE time each. Those color mutations were "blonde" in one case, and "grey" in the other, but with the exact same body shape, and the exact same, very noticable, ear tassles, similar to those seen on the ears of the Canadian Lynx.
Chris Cool.
We have lived in our home for 27 years and I saw my first
black squirrel in our yard yesterday. My son said no one
would believe me.
They are becomming more common, The Black Squirrel was registered as a species back in the 1800's by a wildlife recorder passing through Then Kanesville, IA now called Council Bluffs. The second oldest know population was in MO.
Council Bluffs later became a UP railroad switching hub for the country and the squirrels started hitching rides, also People captured them as pet's, and Side attractions which would later escape and start breeding.
You now are starting to see them more because the Gene in the black squirrel is dominent, They can breed with Red, Grey and white and still produce black young.
back in 87 we had a tornado that knocked down all the really old & big tree's across the town which was the homes to most of the black squirrels.. This drasticly crippled their numbers for 10 years. They are making a come back again and are seen everywhere, You now see less red, and grey's then black squirrels again.
Usually you see either Red squirrels in an area or black in an area, They will kill each other for turf. And that was the new problem with they became homeless and out numbered. But as a local artical said once "claiming the black squirrel population is exploding, and, in an unholy alliance with red squirrels, are spreading from their old downtown scampering grounds to all parts of the city."
When my wife was in the final stages of pregnancy with our daughter a rabbit used to show up in our yard and red cardinals too. I found this kind of odd or maybe I was just paying more attention to the wildlife. Well, after she was born they didn't come around anymore.
Now, since the economy kind of screw up and I'm having financial problems, I looked in my yard a saw a black squirrel is this a sign?
Never seen a black squirrel in my 40 yrs. in Cincinnati.
I saw a black squirrel today, I could'nt believe it!First one I had EVER seen! I've just been searching the net to find out about them, cause I thought I was seeing things. LOL.
I saw my first black squirrel today. I really didn't know what to think, except they are lovey. Even more lovely if they stay out of my bird feeders!
oman we have a lot ov black squrrel in Michigan i can not beleve you guys think they are rare well me and my dad are going out huntig i will tell you guys if i get a black one ok lol bye
oman we have a lot ov black squrrel in Michigan i can not beleve you guys think they are rare well me and my dad are going out huntig i will tell you guys if i get a black one ok lol bye
I came across 2 black squirrels in Kankakee County IL and no one here beleives me. At first I thought one was a black kitten and that I was seeing things but I truly believe it was a black squirrel. Then I spotted my 2nd one eating a red tomato and had a friend with me. Finally a witness to see that I was not entirely "nuts". Will be on the lookout for more.
I was in Dover Ohio 10/8/02 and saw 6 black squirrels playing on the lawns in town. These were the first I had seen.
On a trip up to North central Minnesota just this past week we counted 25 black squirrel's on our drive to see fall colors on the trees. Cass county. we could not believe how many this year. Last year we saw only one . They are increasing.....
Here at Kent, you only see black squirrels.they are so popular that the school holds a black squirrel festival at the begining of every fall semester. I am now begining to think that the red and grey squirrels are becomeing scarace.I used to see grey and red all the time where I live about ten miles from the school,but now when I look out my bay window I mostly see black ones.
While taking a ride in the mountains yesterday thru Genessee Park (just west of Denver), we thought we'd spotted a small black rabbit...but upon closer observation could see it was indeed a black squirrel with longer, more pointed ears than the typical squirrel. Thought we'd possibly discovered a rare "Squabbit"...but alas, guess there's more than one out there!
my father inlaw has a no hair squirrel its gray with a regular brown and black tail. i need help finding out what kind it is?
I am seeing more and more black squirrels in the various parks in and around Palo Alto, California. Never have done a scientific study such as a census over a period of time. there just seems to be more of them. They are the same size as the grey variety and exist among them. Have not seen any in neighboring Menlo Park. Go figure..
I saw my first Black Squirrel this morning after taking my husband to work. I wish "she" was in my yard. Now I will probably spend most of my day trying to find out more about this little black beauty.
Hi! Ihave observed 2 black squirrels in our park. I have never seen black squirrels before. I am planning on doing my science projest on them.
We have had several colonies of Black Squirrels near the center of Town for at least the last 10 years.
I have hunted and fished all around Ga for nearly all of my 35 years and today I saw my first black squirrel. I live in a western suburb of ATL and was amazed by seeing something new right in my front yard. I'm really curious about these animals and eager to learn if this is a common thing I have missed in this area.
In historic Glendale, Ohio we are known for our large black squirrel population
and they have become a symbol identified with this National Historic Landmark community. Seems that a wealthy resident of Glendale, Thomas H. Carruthers III, enjoyed them so much while vacationing in Petoskey, MI in the early 1900's that he brought a group of them home with him in a cage. Interestingly enough, the species has grown to several hundred now and they are clearly territorial and do not leave the town limits! www.glendaleohio.org
I saw my first black squirrel today....beautiful. I'm told there's a large population of them around here. Not long ago, I saw my first blonde squirrel it was equally as beautiful; however, I've never heard of any more of them.
I saw my first black squirrel recently. He's very pretty and completely black. I've only seen one and he socializes (from what I've seen) with only grey squirrels.
http://home.echo-on.net/~quirke/lbquirke/blacksquirrel.html
Read the article
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hww-fap/hww-fap.cfm?ID_species=59&lang=e
I was told they were brought over by W.K.Kellogg in MI.
I have been researching squirrels for a class I am taking and I have found that black squirrels are just a color phase of a gray or fox squirrel. the black gene is dominant and that is why we have been seeing more and more of them. they seem to be more abundant the further north you go, but i haven't found why yet.
Today i was in the Bronx in NY and i saw not one, not two, but three black squirrels? Where did they come from? I have never heard of this in NY. I thought that maybe the pollution had stained them or something? What's up?
Today i was in the Bronx in NY and i saw not one, not two, but three black squirrels? Where did they come from? I have never heard of this in NY. I thought that maybe the pollution had stained them or something? What's up?
i was at my sisters house for christmas and my dad saw one. I thought he was kidding, but then my sister said she sees them around her apartment complex all the time. About five minutes later I saw one. I have never seen one before.
I am an avid outdoorsman, and I have two new black squirrels in my feeder this year, eating along with the grey and red squirrels. I have never seen them in the Chicago area before this.
I've spotted several Black squirrels in the "Blossom Hill" area of San Jose recently. My friend who lives there is a Landscaper and said he only sees them in this suburban area. I've never seen a Black one while hiking or camping anywhere else in California. I have seen one while at the 'Veterens Administration' in Palo Alto, CA. which is located at the outside edge of a suburban area.
I thought that I was going "nuts"...I spotted one during my lunch break when I went home this afternoon. My husband, and his parents (who are visiting from Puerto Rico) and myself spotted him in the back yard. I had never seen one before!
I live in Highland Park, NJ. I have a black squirrel who runs around my backyard and I think he lives on my oak tree. He is a cute buggar!
i have only seen one so far..they are very pretty.
While driving through Squaw Valley in Central California (about 30 miles east of Fresno) I spotted a dead black squrrel on the side of the road. I spoke to a couple people who said they do not exist and it must have been something else. I looked it up on the internet and am happy to know other people have seen them and will direct all doubts to this web site... Thank You
I live in a village in the south of England, United Kingdom, and have been observing a few black squirrels in my garden recently. These are the first that I have ever seen and I didn't even know that they existed until a few months ago (took a few photos of them last week). There have been quite a few sightings of them in neighbouring counties but have not found any others in the UK. Where else in the world are they naturally occuring and why? I have read on different sites that they are a normal seasonal phase for a red squirrel, or, that they are an unusual, but natural colour mutation of the grey squirrel. I have read that they can only produce black offspring if they mate with other black squirrels AND that they will produce black offspring if they mate with ANY colour squirrel (red, grey or white) as their genes are dominant. Obviously these cannot all be true, I'm more inclined to believe the former or they would be much more widespread surely? Sorry if this is a bit long and confusing but I'm at home with flu at the moment and my concentration isn't brilliant, but at least I have a chance to do a little research and surf the web.
I go hunting in the southerntier which is the south part of upstate ny
and I see them all the time!They are also very common
around Augusta,GA.
Thanks!
1/24/03 We routinly have gray and brown squirrel's, but today we had a black beauty. I managed a dozen nice pictures to prove my discovery. He seems more skiddish that the regulars, but didn't object to eating the bread I threw out for the birds.
I had never seen a black squirrel and have lived in Texas all my life. There is one living in our woods now. He/she ? eats from our bird feeder with the rest of the squirrels. Haven't noticed any aggression between colors as some of the other posts have described.
Very interesting posts on this site. I thought the Black Sqirrel was more or less a World Wide critter. I live in Mississauga and our yard has quite a number. We have a small creek nearby and at one time a fox lived there. The number of sqirrels rises and falls, so I assume that the fox is still around. Maybe we have some large cats around as well.
The smaller sqirrel, or what we call a chipmunk, is quite prolific all over the province and particularly in wooded areas
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Since moving to British Columbia from Manitoba I've seen quite a few black squirrels here in the Fraser Valley. I had never saw one in Manitoba, which has predomintly red and grey squirrels. I'm surrounded here by the Rocky Mountains which are covered in large jackpine forests which makes the black squirrel's color perfect for his surrondings in this environment.
We have been seeing a black squirrel in our back yard for about 2 weeks now.
(Mainly since starting to feed birds!). This is the first black squirrel I've
ever seen. In fact he is the only squirrel I am really seeing. I saw one
gray squirrel one day...but really only see the black on a regular basis.
He is a pig! He ate an entire bird seed bell within 20 minutes...and
went around back for more! I bought him some squirrel feed but I don't
think he has found it yet.
We haven't seen squirrels in our yard for years so it is interesting
(and frustrating as he eats the bird food) seeing him. He is a cutie!
Just think it is interesting to go years (literally) without seeing a
squirrel and then the first one we see is black.
We are in Southern Illinois by Missouri and Kentucky borders.
On the island by where I live (the Calgary Zoo island) there are almost
exclusively black squirrels. They are awfully friendly. Well, they're
turning into pan-handlers actually. I go out now and then to feed
some birds and squirrels, and I have discovered a clear pecking order:
squirrel
downy woodpecker
nuthatch
chickadee
I have a hypothesis that the intelligence of the animals is in the
opposite order (judging by their speed at locating the food). The
squirrels are just lucky that they have the brawn on their side,
because otherwise, I don't see how they would ever get anything to
eat.
My mother has seen a black squirrel in a village in the south east of the UK. No-one belived her, it is not to be found in any wildlife books and I've never seen one. Any one else seen one in the UK?
Was at camp over the weekend...thought I was seeing things out at the deer feeder...