Meet the Black Squirrel
You have probably seen the grey. You may even have encountered or at least heard of the red. However, have you ever seen a black squirrel? Take a look at this small but dark beasty of the forest. Oh, and they are really, really cute.
This is the black squirrel. Out of the squirrel population of the United States and Canada perhaps only one in ten thousand is black. However, this is not a separate species in itself. It is in fact a sub-group of the grey squirrel and, little by little their numbers are growing. In fact in some areas they outnumber the greys. However, this black coloring is not a recent trend among the squirrel community – research indicates that in the days before the European settlement of the America the black squirrel was probably much more numerous than the grey.
The Black Squirrel does have some natural advantages over the grey, not least in its photogenic appeal to photographers who still work in black and white. Instead of being a separate species, the Black Squirrel is in fact what is known as a melanistic subgroup. Midwestern North America is their stomping ground although there are groups to be found in the UK (more of which later). Melanism is caused by an increased level of black pigmentation, a compound which determines color called melanin. This subgroup of the Eastern Grey has stacks of melanin and these melanistic traits are the opposite of albinism which occurs when flora or fauna have a lack of the compound.
It’s all about natural selection, so it seems. The Black Squirrels (I am inclined to shorten this to BS but it has rather unfortunate implications) can be found wherever the greys live. It is quite common for two greys to mate and to produce a mixture of black and grey offspring. It seems that the blacks were more common than the greys before European settlement because their darker color enabled them to hide in the dark forests which covered the continent at that time.
Then came the white man! Deforestation happened quickly and the lighter color of the grey squirrel became the one with the most advantage in the remaining space. The blacks do however remain abundant in the northern part of the range of the grey. It is thought that the black is common in the northern areas because it has a higher resistance to cold. Because of their darker color they are able to take in more solar radiation – in other words they stay warmer than the greys. So, they do not need as much food as the greys in order to keep their metabolism ticking over nicely. Furthermore their ancient advantage remains in the denser forests of the north. The darker they are the less easy they are to spot, effectively.
If you want to see a Black Squirrel you would have to travel to Ontario if you are in Canada. Staying the other side of the border, then you would head for Ohio, Wisconsin or Michigan. With less chance of spotting one, you might get lucky in Illinois, Connecticut or even New Jersey as there are small populations to be found there too. If you are elsewhere in the world you may find some, but they are not native to the places and have been introduced there by the hand of man.
Even in Ohio, they were introduced rather than being native to the area. In the early nineteen sixties ten were imported (legally) from Canada. When released they quickly outdid the original Grey Squirrel residents and now predominate. Although they have driven the greys away they do seem to leave other rodent species to their own devices. Some British readers will express satisfaction at the routing of the greys in Ohio – after all, the grey has essentially done for the prettier, smaller red in the United Kingdom so this is a taste of its own medicine, perhaps.
In Illinois you can find the Black Squirrel in Rock Island city. The story foes that they were first introduced on the island of Rock Island Arsenal. Unable to spread far, the water surrounding the island was a natural barrier. However, one cold winter was all that was needed and they were able to hop, skip and jump over the ice covering the frozen Mississippi River.
Michigan has its own legend too. The great early purveyor and all round strange body, Will Keith Kellogg introduced them at Battle Creek as he had a hatred for the local population of Red Squirrels. What they had ever done to him is anyone’s guess.
Kansas even has a population, again with an interesting legend attached. Local historians claim that they escaped from a travelling circus (with Dumbo, perhaps?).
In the United Kingdom, the Grey Squirrel was introduced towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Black Squirrel has, too, made an appearance there but debate rages around why and how. Some research has been done and it has been suggested that the Black Squirrels in the UK escaped from captivity and were not deliberately introduced. In the town of Hitchin the blacks are now as abundant as the greys. The escape trickster of the rodent world had struck again.
Thanks for the images! Some have been sent that really are not quite good enough to include here – but thank you ever so much anyway! However, a black blur in the distance is, I am afraid, something that we can’t really take in! However, excellent pics are starting to come in now! Here is the first. Say hello to the Black Squirell in the Everglades!
Image reproduced with many thanks to Ms Nagy of Floria
Again, many thanks to Marilyn Nagy, in Naples, Florida, who sent in this picture to show just how deeply the Black has penetrated the US! She took this picture at the end of February 2010 in the Everglades. Wow!
Any pictures from yourself? Please, send them in! Please email taliesyn30@aol.com – and include your name, location and some comments about your sighting too. Thanks!
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39 Responses to “Meet the Black Squirrel”
On September 28, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I live in Centereach, long Island, N.Y. and been feeding the Grey Squirrels for years that live in my front yard tree but in August of 09′ I seen a Black one on my front lawn. In my disbelief I called to it as I do to my Grey ones and them knowing peanuts will follow. The black squirrel paused then I tossed the peanuts. A couple of days passed and seeing the black one hanging around and came up to my deck I thought how friendly. On the 3rd day she brought over a baby black one and up the tree she went with it. The black one took over the tree and chased the grey one away and now she and baby found a food source and a place to live. I recently seen a baby grey of hers pop out of the hole but back in it went. I guess she has a grey and a black one too young to come out yet but how exciting to see the black one and know that the generations will hopefully continue right here in my tree. She is very cute and soft looking and soon I will teach her as the others how to take the peanuts from my hand.
On September 28, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Hi, it’s me again from Centereach, N.Y. again giving you an update about the new resident in my tree the black squirrel. I couldn’t figure out what she had in her mouth giving her a bit of a time and me thinking “oh my, I sure hope she’s not choking” but after about 7-8 mins. she came down my cherry tree across the lawn and started up the oak where her babies are and I was able to see what was in her mouth. It was a baby mouse to my surprise! I didn’t know squirrels eat meat like that and then I realized I guess she has to bring the babies the protein needed for growth…I guess. Well I thought I would share that since I had to Google the question about their diets and YES they do.
On October 3, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I live in New Hampshire and we just saw one yesterday…neither my husband or I had ever heard of them, never mind seen one! We have now!!! Interesting!!
On October 7, 2009 at 10:44 am
i live in nc so i only get the grey ones
On October 10, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Live in Pittsburgh PA suburb. Saw my first ever black squirrel yesterday and my husband saw one a week ago. We have lots of grey and red squirrels here. Appreciate info on this site!
On October 10, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I have to say, there is an abundance of these in the San Francisco Bay area as well…I don\’t see any mention of the West at all in these articles. Very interesting.
On October 18, 2009 at 2:53 pm
My wife and I regularly holiday in Lenzkirch in the Black Forest, Germany. Out of our living room window we watch the antics of a family of jet black squirrels. they are not as friendly as red or grey and appear to be very wary of humans to sutch an extent that even if we put food out for them they don’t take it. This may be due to the fact that they are well fed.
On October 20, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I have one here (Black Squirrel) in southern Ulster County, NY. Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain Region. First I have ever seen in more than 30 years of living here.
On October 22, 2009 at 9:16 am
Come to St.Thomas Ontario! Millions of the little buggers and they get into everything……….Errrrr, but they are cute!
On October 25, 2009 at 11:11 am
In Upland, Indiana, 60 miles NE of Indianapolis, the black squirrels are about all we ever see. It would not be unusual to see a dozen or more at once in my yard. The strangest sights are the new litters. Many babies are jet black while some are odd combinations of black, grey, and brown. Sometimes they have strange combinations of fur length giving some the appearance of ‘Punk’ squirrels with.
On October 25, 2009 at 9:25 pm
My brother lives in Wisconsin and we have watched two blacks playing in his back yard, all morning.
On October 25, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Today my family and I were out for a nice Sunday drive
when we spotted a squirrel running across the road- a very common sight these days – then my husband and u turned and looked at each other and said – that squirrel was all black! I lived
in this area all my life and my family,we are all avid outdoorsman. This is the first time I have seen a black squirrel I live in upstate NY an hour north of Albany.
On November 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm
In Saint Paul, MN I’ve only seen grey squirrels all my life. Then ten years ago I saw a black one about 8 blocks from my home. (it was very exciting.) Now they seem to be everywhere – got two in my yard right now. They are beautiful but they are taking over! I am curious why they seem to be more prolific than the greys? Also, is the gene that makes them black dominant? or is it related to the albinism? becuase we sure have a lot of whilte squirrles, too (not as many as grey or black but they certainly aren’t rare).
I would’ve thought the whilte’s might have an advantage in the winter by blending in to the snow avoiding pursuing hawks. Guess not…
On November 8, 2009 at 12:41 pm
When we first moved to Michigan 20 years ago from OHio I had never seen a black squirrel. However, we see many more black squirrels than greys. In fact, I have a tailless one in my back yard!!! How does that work?
On November 9, 2009 at 10:42 pm
When we cut down a dead tree in the yard. about 10 of the black squirrels ran out of the single tree
On November 23, 2009 at 2:10 am
I’m located 15 miles north of Colorado Springs, and have four of these black squirrels around my home, along with many other brown squirrels.
On November 23, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I seen my first black sqirrel today in Bellingham WA. been in WA. all my life and i have never seen a black squirrel, not once. it was pretty neet to see it. never new they existed.
On November 24, 2009 at 12:07 am
I have been around for quite a few decades. I have been hand training “wild” black squirrels since I was about 5 years old in the Laurentians. I now live much further west and they are still the bright affection little critters I have always known. I have only ever seen one red squirrel and the greys are not worth mentioning.
On November 25, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I was driving in northwestern Michigan and spotted a large black squirrel on a fence post. My husband said I was imagining things or it was some other animal. I have never heard of a black squirrel. Glad to see I am not crazy.
On November 27, 2009 at 5:03 pm
My husband and I saw a black squirrel in Eastern North Carolina today.
On November 30, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I live in Magnolia, Tx. We live just north of Houston, in South Texas. We have a black squirrel in our backyard. This is the first time I have ever seen one.I thought they only lived in colder climates. All of our other squirrels are grey. It’s very pretty.
On December 3, 2009 at 1:58 am
I saw one today in Northern California… I was excited! I never knew they existed, and found this page during my search to find info on them. I lived in FL for 32 years, and have been here for 7… never saw one before. Anyone else in CA see one?
On December 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm
i was recently visiting my sister in central illinois when we went to a park to view the place i visited as a kid.when we drove around to this cul-de-sac to turn around i looked at sumthing running across the ground and jump to the truck of a tree.. was so weird that i had to get out an look closer… as i walked up i looked up at the lower limb..an sitting there staring back at me was this black squirrel. it was the coolest thing ive ever seen.. even my sister didnt kno they exsisted.. ive lived in florida 28yrs and nvr even heard of them till she found this webpage.. i guess ur never to old to experiance natural at its best.. omg1313@yahoo.com
On December 26, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I first spotted a black squirrel frollicking in the oak trees in front of my home and in the backyard where oak trees are quite abundant in November, 2009. I live in Salisbury, Massachusetts in the northeast corner of Massachusetts, only a few miles from the stateline of New Hampshire. I thought my eyes were playing tricks, but my oldest grandson verified it was a black squirrel and since spotting the black squirrel, my husband, daughter and son-in-law, another grandson have seen the black squirrel. I remember seeing black squirrels in Ohio, where I lived for 6 years prior to moving to Massachusetts. I think they are beautiful. When it jumps from limb to limb of the oak trees it’s like a ballerina, so graceful. I wish I could get a good picture of the squirrel, but this little furry creature is quite swift. Maybe I’ll put out some squirrel food for it. I also saw it chasing a grey squirrel. Maybe I’ll see a few more black squirrels next spring. Happy Squirrel Watching to everyone!
On December 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I live in Northwest Iowa and we have plenty of black squirrels.
On December 30, 2009 at 1:05 am
BS Siting. 12/25/09 Omaha Nebraska
On January 2, 2010 at 2:28 pm
I live in Mundelein Illinois, a far northwest suburb of Chicago, near Waukegan. There have been a small group of black squirrels in one of the older neighborhoods here, probably due to the large number of mature trees, and the resulting shade. Now, 23 yrs. later, I have just spotted one black squirrel in my back yard, where there have always only been greys. I like to feed nuts to the squirrels, who all think I’m their mother now. When, one day, just a couple weeks ago, I noticed this one striking black squirrel out there amongst the grey ones. When I went out to call to the squirrels to get some nuts, he immediately stood erect, and with no fear, came right up with the greys to get himself a nut. Then he did not show up again, until this morning. He is beautiful. And I was wondering if there is some environmental change, which could have resulted in his presence, where there have only been grey squirrels for the past 23 years that I have lived here. So I went on here to research, and really enjoyed this article. Thanks. Resident Mundelein, Illinois
On January 7, 2010 at 6:11 pm
We have a Black Squirrel here in Niantic CT. He/she is beautiful and very lively. Glad I found this article.
On January 12, 2010 at 12:42 am
A Black Squirrel was seen in Tomball, Texas Jan. 09, 2010. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Called a Friend, asked were there such a thing as a Black Squirrel? She Google. OK!!
Gladys,
Tomball, Texas
On January 29, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I’m in Massachusetts and have recently been seeing the black squirrel!
Jean.
On January 30, 2010 at 9:43 pm
We live at Bigstone Lake in Roberts County, South Dakota. Today my mother told us she had seen several, quite large BLACK squirrels outside by the bird feeders my husband has put up for her to see out her window (she lives with us). We were saying, “What? There are no black squirrels!” So, of course I had to Google them, and I found TONS of sites about them–this being one of them. I’m excited, because I THINK I’m the first one to note on this BLOG that we have black squirrels in NE SOUTH DAKOTA!!!
On February 1, 2010 at 6:31 pm
As the author of this article I would really like to thank everyone for their input here.As can be dated – we can really spot the squirrels as they progress!
Send me your pics – taliesyn30@aol.com – and we can add them on!
Why not? Get the cameras out folks!
On February 28, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Saw my first black squirrel in the Everglades today.
On March 1, 2010 at 10:36 pm
HI… I live in Manchester, NH and now have a black squirrel visiting my bird feeders every day. No one here had ever heard of one before. Had to look it up to make sure that what I was seeing was real. Thanks for all the info.
On March 1, 2010 at 10:40 pm
HI… I live in Manchester, NH and now have a black squirrel visiting my bird feeders every day. No one here had ever heard of one before. Had to look it up to make sure that what I was seeing was real. Thanks for all the great information here. Have taken some photos, will try to pass one on soon.
On March 2, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Black squirles are reported to inhabit Davenport/ Quad Cities area here in Illinois. Quite recently a black squirl was spotted in a western Chicago suburb. It was seen on a tree branch and appeared much like a small black plastic bag. Only when it decended fron the branch did it get recognized for what it was.
This is the first one that I have seen in this area and suspect that more are to follow.
On March 3, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Michigan State University’s famous black squirrels are the descendants of 10 males and 10 females transplanted in the early 1960s from MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station at Gull Lake. Joe Johnson, an MSU biologist who recently concluded his 48-year-long career with the university as director of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, MI., filled university president John Hannah’s request for black squirrels, baiting them with walnuts and peanut butter! Before Gull Lake was donated to MSU in 1951, it had been the summer home of W.K. Kellogg, certainly adding some credence to the cereal king’s role in the black squirrel’s introduction to the Battle Creek area.
On March 3, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Black squirrels are mentioned living in the northwestern part of the Michigan lower peninsula in Hemingway’s 1924 short story, “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife”, which took place around Horton Bay. Black squirrels were apparently rare enough at the time that Dr. Adams follows his son deeper into the woods where Nick knows they can find them.
On March 16, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Saw my first black squirrel in Parkersburg WV. I had never heard of them before either! I hope to see more.
Thanks for the page!
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