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From Wikipedia:
As a melanistic variety of the eastern grey squirrel, individual black squirrels can exist wherever grey squirrels live. Grey mating pairs can not produce black offspring. Grey squirrels have 2 copies of a normal pigment gene and black squirrels have either 1 or 2 copies of a mutant pigment gene. If a black squirrel has 2 copies of the mutant gene it will be jet black. If it has 1 copy of a mutant gene and 1 normal gene it will be brown-black.[1] In areas with high concentrations of black squirrels, mixed litters are common.[2] The black subgroup seems to have been predominant throughout North America prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, since their dark colour helped them hide in virgin forests which tended to be very dense and shaded. As time passed, hunting and deforestation led to biological advantages for grey coloured individuals.[3] Today, the black subgroup is particularly abundant in the northern part of the eastern grey squirrel's range.[4][5] This is likely due to the significantly increased cold tolerance of black squirrels which lose less heat than greys.[5] Black squirrels also enjoy concealment advantages in denser northern forests.[2]
first black squirrel i've seen in this area. there were a lot more in the upper midwest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjh
Never heard of or seen one. Until now.
Coincidentally, I posted yesterday in another thread about black squirrels. I live in NW Indiana, a little more than an hour's drive SE of Chicago. In this area, our squirrels are grey or brown/tan. But just over an hour's drive from here, in SW Michigan, the squirrels are jet black. They are gorgeous - small with big, fluffy tails.
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During my morning commute to work this week, I've been seeing huge flocks of birds in farm fields and in trees near the highway. Each day the flocks are larger. I wonder which one is responsible for the head count and deciding when it's time to begin the migration! *chuckle*
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Coincidentally, I posted yesterday in another thread about black squirrels. I live in NW Indiana, a little more than an hour's drive SE of Chicago. In this area, our squirrels are grey or brown/tan. But just over an hour's drive from here, in SW Michigan, the squirrels are jet black. They are gorgeous - small with big, fluffy tails.
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NW indiana is where i saw them for the first time. there are lots of them in that area and in SW michigan
Coincidentally, I posted yesterday in another thread about black squirrels. I live in NW Indiana, a little more than an hour's drive SE of Chicago. In this area, our squirrels are grey or brown/tan. But just over an hour's drive from here, in SW Michigan, the squirrels are jet black. They are gorgeous - small with big, fluffy tails.
Location: Approximately 50 miles from Missoula MT/38 yrs full time after 4 yrs part time
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A great wildlife day
One of the advantages of living "out-in-the-boonies", is every once in a while you get the feeling that you're
living in "your own little Wildlife Preserve". Today was one of those days...................The 12 mile drive into town is quite rewarding:
Seen from the Living Room and the driveway on the way out to the County Road and then on to the state highway:
.....Seven WT Deer along with 4 of this year's fawns.
.....One Cow Elk
.....10 California Quail
.....7 or 8 Red Shafted Flicker Wood Peckers
.....2 Steller Jays
.....about 8 "camp Robbers" (I believe they are some form of Jay.
.....and 4 of what are known in this area as:..Pine Squirrels...(they are Tan/Grey in color and are just about twice the size of a Chip-Monk.) No where near as big as the "City Squirrels" that live in town! They live off of the seeds from the inside of pine cones from Ponderosa Pines. VERY noisey and will get into your garage through the "holes" made in the cedar siding by those damn Flicker Woodpeckers.
Once out on the highway, I saw 2 Bald eagles and 4 Osprey, & at least 100 Canada Geese and 4 Sand Hill Cranes.
I guess the inconvience of living outside of town is worth it!!
I parked in a small lay-bye next to a development above the sea to look at the beach below. A bird about two feet high appeared in the grass in front of my car, and it looked for all the world like a yellow-billed egret. These usually do not stray much to southern Europe (I live in Portugal), but it definitely didn't look like the local cattle egrets. I've checked around online a bit and nothing else seems to fit. Still quite a strange sighting. Intermediate Egret (gobirding.eu)
I'm used to seeing egrets in the spring when the golf course is flooded by heavy late spring rains, and they come there to feed a dozen or so at a time.
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