Black Squirrels

[Beerhound]

Where I live (in a village on the Chiltern Hills) there are loads of black squirrels. It is not just one or two but we see them on almost a daily basis.

Does anyone know where they have come from? I could look on the Internet I suppose but I thought that I would ask here first!!

 

[Beerhound]

I did have a quick look on the Internet and I was not seeing things,they do exisit!!

 

[pixieru]

I found this on the internet, looks like they come from mainland Europe, i have never heard of a black squirrel before.

There are two species of squirrel in Britain: the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Black and albino variants of red squirrels are found in mainland Europe but are rare in Britain, however black and albino variants of grey squirrels have been reported in Britain.

These are grey squirrels with high levels of the black pigment melanin in their hair (melanic). Although generally rare across Britain, black squirrels are found in at least three areas:

Cambridgeshire Bedfordshire Hertfordshire

 

[AnnSa]

Mmm interesting......i didn't know you could get black ones

 

[Whippetman]

A couple of pictures just to show what they look like

 

[jinnyfizz]

Now they are cute

We only have grey ones round here - I'd love to see some black ones too :thumbsup:

 

[doris]

yep, I'm from Hertfordshire (not far from you I believe, Beerhound :- " ) and there was a bit of a do about them in our local paper a few years ago - they do exist, don't worry! :wacko: :lol:

 

[J.T.]

Some years ago I saw a black squirrel in our local park, only once, but it was definately black :thumbsup:

No one else I know ever saw it & I was beginning to doubt myself & was thinking maybe it was just a grey one in shadow or something. But I know what I saw & now other people have seen them I can rest easy that I wasn't imagining things :sweating:

However this was a good few years ago & no sightings since so he/she was obviously not top of the gene pool

 

[AnnSa]

Aren't they pretty in black :thumbsup:

 

[Seraphina]

I like this purple one

 

[meddling]

I like this purple one 

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(w00t)

 

[Janimal]

Really strange black squirells.. :blink: but cute too... :wub:

Strangely enough I was watching my local TV news last night and in Northumberland ....a famouse Hotel up there is serving up for the very first time...

Grey squirrel terine with nuts... :lol: [SIZE=14pt]Honestly[/SIZE] ...they are culling the grey ones...and have got the chef there to try them on the menu.

Would you try it......I would...they say it is very sweet meat, even better than rabbit...

 

[stormydog]

so enoch powell was right then ? (w00t) (w00t)

before you whingey bstrds start.. im only joking

john...with the multicultural black & brown injured dog and even a black monkey

 

[kirsty]

Oh they are lovely :wub: I used to have a little grey squirrel that came to my back door and it used to take fruit and muesli out of my hand and sit there munching away, it was so cute :wub: