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I've never seen black squirrels on LI but I have seen them all over the place in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. They were something else! They would come right up to you and beg for food. The tenants would buy peanuts for them.
I have one near me for the past 2 years. Here's the deal with squirrels. The black squirrels are a subgroup of the eastern grey squirrel. They are also not local to LI. They started out in the north, Canada, midwest and have migrated down here. For a variety of reasons, the grey squirrels have been more successful than black ones and their populations are being diminished by the greys. The same thing happened in Ireland. Ireland only had red squirrels but through people transport, greys were brought over and they are wiping out the red squirrel population. Tree quirrels are very territorial. They tend to stay in the same small vicinity for most of their lives. The black squirrel is currently a subject in several studies. Actually, many varieties of both tree and ground squirrels are currently under study because they are providing clues to climate changes.
I've never seen black squirrels on LI but I have seen them all over the place in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. They were something else! They would come right up to you and beg for food. The tenants would buy peanuts for them.
And that particular colony is rather famous! They call them sqrats.
I have one near me for the past 2 years. Here's the deal with squirrels. The black squirrels are a subgroup of the eastern grey squirrel. They are also not local to LI. They started out in the north, Canada, midwest and have migrated down here. For a variety of reasons, the grey squirrels have been more successful than black ones and their populations are being diminished by the greys. The same thing happened in Ireland. Ireland only had red squirrels but through people transport, greys were brought over and they are wiping out the red squirrel population. Tree quirrels are very territorial. They tend to stay in the same small vicinity for most of their lives. The black squirrel is currently a subject in several studies. Actually, many varieties of both tree and ground squirrels are currently under study because they are providing clues to climate changes.
That's very interesting. My encounters with red squirrels have been limited to the little meanies screaming at me and tossing things.
The first ones I ever saw was about twenty five years ago on, I think, the Blue Course at Bethpage State Park. Could have been the Red Course, though. Saw them for a few years as I always looked for them, unless my tee shot was sliced Two years ago, I saw one in Lattingtown, just off Lattingtown Road. I always like seeing them.
Black squirrels used to be very plentiful on Long Island. However the aggressiveness of the grey squirrel has driven their numbers down to almost non-existent.
Years ago there was a colony in Center Moriches by the playground at the elementary school. Then they paved it over. I had a few in NEPA when I lived there but haven't seen any in Wading River, although there are a zillion grey ones! I also had the little red squirrels in Pa. They were cute!
We have a black squirrel where I live in Wading River. Seen him last year and he has been around more often this year. They have a beautiful shiny black coat.
I know this is an old post but I saw a beautiful black squirrel in my yard over weekend. We are in Lindenhurst. When I lived in Merrick Woods years ago there were many, love their beautiful shiny coats.
Does anyone have them in their neighborhood?
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Two years ago, I saw one in Lattingtown, just off Lattingtown Road. I always like seeing them.
Black squirrel
