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Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 12:57
| I have both red and gray squirrels but no black ones. I have seen them in Canada many times but heard they are now in New England. Anyone have them showing up at their house? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Black squirrels in most areas are not a separate species, but a common mutation of the gray squirrel - they are melanistic, which means they have more pigment than normal. In some areas, the black squirrels come to outnumber or equal the gray, especially if the population was artificially increased by university experiments (as near Kent State in Ohio). There are parts of Ohio and DC that have large populations without intervention, too. We have seen a few here near Philly, and they can pop up anywhere. |
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- Posted by WIDOWER_GARDENER z5/MASS (asbp66@yahoo.com) on Mon, Aug 22, 05 at 17:44
| None sighted in my area of North Andover. Chipmunks have been sparse this summer as well. |
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| My parents in Acton reported a black squirrel last year... |
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| I believe there have been black squirrels in Acton for years. I grew up there, in fact. I also know that Westfield State College has black squirrels all over the campus. |
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- Posted by NavyMom2226 7- R.I. (My Page) on Wed, Aug 24, 05 at 10:37
| Hi Sully, RI here/ and we have just the grey squirrels. Would love to see a black one, or even a chipmunk. |
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- Posted by JanCarkner Ottawa CAN (My Page) on Wed, Aug 24, 05 at 11:34
| I guess it is a regional thing. We have only black-coloured (grey) squirrels. I'll have to look to see if I can find a grey one! |
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- Posted by Tracey_NJ6 (My Page) on Tue, Aug 30, 05 at 14:20
| There's a few in Leonia, NJ; it really freaked me out the first time that I saw them ;) I've seen a few in different locations in the town. |
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| We've had black squirrels in the DC area for 20 years now. I thought they were offspring of escapees from the National Zoo . . . , if they're truly mutants of the local species, then I've noticed they are getting more brownish/red from a mixed bloodline of other grey squirrels. I've seen a few albino squirrels downtown DC and they're quite a treat. Anyone in need of grey squirrels, send me postage and I'll send you a dozen. They keep eating my green apples and I've yet to taste a ripe one since they're eaten/dropped on the ground before September harvest. |
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- Posted by Tommysmommy Colorado (My Page) on Sun, Sep 4, 05 at 12:31
| I saw my first (and only) black squirrel in McKinney Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas. I'd understood they came from the midwest. Currently living in Denver suburbs, and have never seen one here. |
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- Posted by milfordpeople(gee01757@yahoo.com) onMon, Nov 14, 05 at 9:17
| We have seen black squirrels in Milford, Ma and everyone thought we were "nuts", hahaha.... |
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- Posted by jillhudock z7 PA (My Page) on Mon, Nov 14, 05 at 16:28
| Where I grew up there were black squirrels - this is in the Poconos of Pennsylvania near a little town called Conyngham. The folklore around these were that the Butlers (the county is named after them) brought a pair over from Europe so that they would not miss them. We would see one occasionally pop up in the normal population. |
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| Got lots of them out here in the woods in West Michigan. Lisa |
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| 63 yrs living in rural and urban areas around Wisconsin, and I saw my first black squirrel at a family reunion this year. Many of them, in fact. All lived on the north end of Lake Winnebago in the Menasha/Appleton area. So far, havent seen any in the SE area (Milwaukee area) where I live. Pondy |
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| They've been in Westfield, MA, for years. I've also seen a few in Longmeadow. I love the black squirrels and wish I could bag a few & bring them to our yard. |
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| We've seen a black squirrel in our back yard in Northwest San Antonio this month. All others have been fox squirrels. |
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- Posted by oscarthecat z7MD (My Page) on Mon, Nov 28, 05 at 11:48
| Years ago we had grey squirrels with white tipped ears Very interesting but I do not suppose that unusual. Steve in Baltimore |
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| I just saw a black squirrel today 4/27/08 in my backyard. I live in Kenosha, WI. I have done some research and it looks like the black squirrel has been seen in the northern and central part of the state but not in the southeastern part of the state. Is this a first? |
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| we get them locally here in western MA! :) |
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- Posted by ben watkins(watkins.jb@gmail.com) onSun, Jan 16, 11 at 12:36
| a solo fellow showed up in the city park behind our house this fall - he can be seen on my flickr photo site http://www.flickr.com/photos/30420605@N06/ ben w |
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| I saw a sleek shiny totally black squirrel on Nov 4, 2010 near the San Jose, California airport! What a surprise. Tried to get a quick photo but it ran off the second I moved. Min |
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- Posted by Renee(Renee03@gmail.com) onSun, Mar 20, 11 at 8:54
| I just saw one in Maynard, MA! |
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- Posted by Lauren Bourne(Lauren.degregorio@capecod.edu) onMon, May 2, 11 at 21:39
| I just saw a black one with a grey one in Bourne MA...so glad I got a picture! |
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- Posted by Jackie(angeljt@aol.com) onWed, May 11, 11 at 13:24
| We have one in my Mom's back yard in Malden. He's been here for a few years. I've only seen the one and I did get some pictures of him/her. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Black squirrel
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- Posted by Julie(jreedy@rcn.com) onFri, May 27, 11 at 7:21
| I saw a black squirrel in Newton Massachusetts 5/27/11. It scampered up a tree with a grey one right behind! Too bad I couldn't get my camera out quick enough! |
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| There are a few in Stoneham and also in Charlestown |
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- Posted by Jamey(ptrainer78@yahoo.com) onSat, Aug 13, 11 at 21:47
| There was a Black Squirrel sighting in North Reading Massachusetts today. He looked like a large rat at first, but as I got closer, sure enough he was a squirrel. Little guy with very good jumping ability. |
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- Posted by Tracee Boston MA(Traceeinteriors@gmail.com) onMon, Sep 19, 11 at 17:48
| Yes!! Saw one yesterday in public garden. I've lived in the city for almost 10 years. I was amazed by it! Very cool looking and kind of hopping around strangely. I took a picture!! |
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| i have one in my backyard in medford ma |
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- Posted by abillouise none (My Page) on Sun, Nov 20, 11 at 16:42
| I've seen black squirrels in the Ball Square neighborhood of Somerville, MA for the first time this year, starting around September. I'm not sure if there are several or just one. But I got a few pics of a really fat, well-fed black squirrel this afternoon in my backyard. |
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| We saw our first black squirrel in our back yard yesterday. |
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| Greetings, My wife and I spotted a black squirrel at our home today in North Andover. I'm familiar with them in DC but have never seen them around these parts before. |
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- Posted by dancegypsy 7 (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 16:32
| There are some great videos on YouTube of black squirrels. I would love to see one live, but I think it will be a while before they make their way to GA. I have a friend who lives near Philadelphia who has had both albino and black squirrels get tame enough to come to him for peanuts in his back yard. Not at the same time. That would be a rush. If I can figure out how to post this, here's a link to a black squirrel video: |
Here is a link that might be useful: Black Squirrel Video
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