My Favorite, Black Squirrels !

Discussion in 'Pets & Critters' started by Mary Stetler, Apr 26, 2023.

  1. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    When I lived in NY as a kid, my favorite wild critters were black squirrels. They were beautiful and about 50% of the squirrel population--the rest were grey.
    A friend who lives in Oshkosh, WI said they had them there. But I never saw one around here until today. Even my challenged daughter was thrilled to see it. There are a few mutations but not pure black, here. Until today.
    Kinda like a furry tailed mink.
    Natural GMO.:rolleyes:
     
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  2. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I had never even heard of a black squirrel, so I had to look it up and find pictures, @Mary Stetler . They are definitely both unique and beautiful !
    When I lived in north Idaho, we only found squirrels deep into the forests; not like here in Alabama where they live on your doorstep and beg for treats.
    When we went fishing and camping back when I was growing up, we often saw chipmunks, and they were fairly friendly and would come up for bits of bread, but I do not remember seeing squirrels then either.

    Here is a picture I found online of a black squirrel. In case other people have never seen one either, and the chipmunk picture is one my son took of the chipmunks on his back deck.

    IMG_5060.jpeg IMG_2747.jpeg
     
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  3. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    Thank you!
    I think chipmunks are very cute. But I still don't like them ever since they started filling my riding boots with seeds from feed bags.:mad:
    We have many varieties of squirrels here.
     
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  4. Thomas Windom

    Thomas Windom Very Well-Known Member
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    When I was on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, I would always see lots of them. They seemed to far outnumber the grey squirrels in that area. I have no idea if they’re common throughout Bethesda or if it’s just the NIH main campus area.
     
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  5. Ed Wilson

    Ed Wilson Veteran Member
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    Never saw a black squirrel here but I have seen a cross between red squirrels and grey.
     
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  6. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    The Kent State University campus is famous for those black squirrels. There is even a black squirrel day celebration every year.

    "Black squirrels were brought to Kent State University from Ontario, Canada, in 1961 by Larry Wooddell, who was the grounds superintendent, and “Biff” Staples, a retired Davey Tree employee. They called the mission “Operation Black Squirrel”."

     
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  7. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    Uh oh. I didn't realize they were an invasive species.:rolleyes:
     
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