what color are your squirrels?

Shawnee123 · 11-22-2006, 11:59 AM

In this area most are grey. We have some white ones. People say they're albino but I argue that albinism is a recessive gene, and very rare, so there wouldn't be so many of them. Also, their eyes aren't pink.

I have seen black squirrels in the Lake Erie region.

I saw a red and white one, too. My ex had found it and taken a picture because we had never seen a bi-colored squirrel before. I was all like "how cute" until I realized it was all sprawled out because he found it dead.

Squirrel colors seem to be geographically determined, so what do you have in your area? I'm hoping to get a grant to do a Cellar Study of the Geographical Determinations of Squirrel Pigmenation.

Spexxvet · 11-22-2006, 12:06 PM

Around here - grey

At the shore - black

I've seen the red ones, too, but I can't recall where.

DanaC · 11-22-2006, 12:18 PM

The ones that scamper about our campus, look grey, but with red across their backs and the top of their tails. I don't know if that means they're red squirrels or grey squirrels. Supposedly our native red squirrels have been all but wiped out by the grey immigrants:P

11-22-2006, 12:47 PM

Our native squirrel is the black Abert's squirrel. You mostly see them out in the wild. In the towns the red squirrel has become dominent. Red squirrels are NOT native and got here from the Eastern US, following the towns. They are a regular nuisance!

DanaC · 11-22-2006, 01:26 PM

Reds are native to Britain, not sure where the greys came from, but over the last 40-50 years numbers of Reds have dropped significantly.

Elspode · 11-22-2006, 01:46 PM

Mostly light brown, trending to red. I saw jet black squirrels in Colorado once. I even have a pic at home, I think.

From what I can tell on the road, though, they're all red on the inside.

wolf · 11-22-2006, 01:49 PM

Gray and Black at home. At work we have a couple of White Squirrels. I have to keep telling patients they are really seeing them.

Shawnee123 · 11-22-2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

I have to keep telling patients they are really seeing them.

Awesome!

Happy Monkey · 11-22-2006, 04:00 PM

Gray and Black here.

ferret88 · 11-22-2006, 04:08 PM

The ones her are ...um...earth-tones? You know... tans, browns, the like.

Griff · 11-22-2006, 04:23 PM

gray and red here. We see the occasional flying type and I thought I saw a black up the road a piece but they are not sposed to be here.

11-22-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

Mostly light brown, trending to red. I saw jet black squirrels in Colorado once. I even have a pic at home, I think.

Yeah our native Colorado black squirrels are cool. They even have tufted ears!

Shawnee123 · 11-22-2006, 04:38 PM

The black squirrels look really great.
Has anyone else ever seen the bi-colored ones?

(Careful, I hear bi-colored squirrels are pushing for bi-colored marriage legislation.)<----couldn't help myself.

Hoof Hearted · 11-22-2006, 04:53 PM

Gray squirrels here. The ones in CA where I grew up were a sandy brown color, but they were ground squirrels. The ones here in GA are tree squirrels.

I recently saw pics of what looked like a "pinto" marked deer, red with white splotches. I would venture to say that the mismarked white are recessive genes and the lack of carniverous predators to seek out the 'different' and human hunters to seek the 'perfect' are what are allowing these mutations to proliferate.

Isn't there a town that advertises their "white squirrels" as a bit of a tourist attraction?
hh

Shawnee123 · 11-22-2006, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoof Hearted

Isn't there a town that advertises their "white squirrels" as a bit of a tourist attraction?
hh

Yes, there are, HH. I was looking this up earlier and saw a few towns who tout their "albino" squirrel population. Funny enough, some of these folks went on and on about their albino squirrels, saying the only difference was their eyes are black.

It's been a few years since college biology and Punnet Squares (I loved those) but I believe albinism is a complete lack of pigment, including the eyes (which would look pink.) Any biologists know for sure?

11-22-2006, 11:59 AM	#1
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	what color are your squirrels? In this area most are grey. We have some white ones. People say they're albino but I argue that albinism is a recessive gene, and very rare, so there wouldn't be so many of them. Also, their eyes aren't pink. I have seen black squirrels in the Lake Erie region. I saw a red and white one, too. My ex had found it and taken a picture because we had never seen a bi-colored squirrel before. I was all like "how cute" until I realized it was all sprawled out because he found it dead. Squirrel colors seem to be geographically determined, so what do you have in your area? I'm hoping to get a grant to do a Cellar Study of the Geographical Determinations of Squirrel Pigmenation. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby Last edited by Shawnee123; 11-22-2006 at 12:03 PM.

11-22-2006, 12:06 PM	#2
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Around here - grey At the shore - black I've seen the red ones, too, but I can't recall where. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

11-22-2006, 01:46 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Mostly light brown, trending to red. I saw jet black squirrels in Colorado once. I even have a pic at home, I think. From what I can tell on the road, though, they're all red on the inside. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-22-2006, 01:49 PM	#7
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Gray and Black at home. At work we have a couple of White Squirrels. I have to keep telling patients they are really seeing them. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-22-2006, 04:00 PM	#9
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Gray and Black here. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

11-22-2006, 12:18 PM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	The ones that scamper about our campus, look grey, but with red across their backs and the top of their tails. I don't know if that means they're red squirrels or grey squirrels. Supposedly our native red squirrels have been all but wiped out by the grey immigrants:P

11-22-2006, 12:47 PM	#4
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Our native squirrel is the black Abert's squirrel. You mostly see them out in the wild. In the towns the red squirrel has become dominent. Red squirrels are NOT native and got here from the Eastern US, following the towns. They are a regular nuisance!

11-22-2006, 01:26 PM	#5
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Reds are native to Britain, not sure where the greys came from, but over the last 40-50 years numbers of Reds have dropped significantly.

11-22-2006, 04:08 PM	#10
ferret88 (This space left intentionally UN-blank.) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 604	The ones her are ...um...earth-tones? You know... tans, browns, the like.

11-22-2006, 04:23 PM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	gray and red here. We see the occasional flying type and I thought I saw a black up the road a piece but they are not sposed to be here. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-22-2006, 04:38 PM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	The black squirrels look really great. Has anyone else ever seen the bi-colored ones? (Careful, I hear bi-colored squirrels are pushing for bi-colored marriage legislation.)<----couldn't help myself. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-22-2006, 04:53 PM	#14
Hoof Hearted ...you smell something? Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 420	Gray squirrels here. The ones in CA where I grew up were a sandy brown color, but they were ground squirrels. The ones here in GA are tree squirrels. I recently saw pics of what looked like a "pinto" marked deer, red with white splotches. I would venture to say that the mismarked white are recessive genes and the lack of carniverous predators to seek out the 'different' and human hunters to seek the 'perfect' are what are allowing these mutations to proliferate. Isn't there a town that advertises their "white squirrels" as a bit of a tourist attraction? hh __________________ I have the ability of single-minded determination and focu...Hey, look! A horse!

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