Author Topic: An interloper (Read 1041 times)

Jeff · « **on:** September 07, 2022, 11:28:04 AM »

I just saw the first black squirrel I have ever seen up here run from behind the outhouse out into the open, and then back into the trees. Yesterday I would of said they didn't exist here.

chet · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2022, 12:01:15 PM »

Maybe he hitched a ride north with ya, thinkin' there was greener nut pastures UP north.

Jeff · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2022, 12:44:35 PM »

I've not crossed that bridge since May 28th.

DeerMeadowFarm · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2022, 01:05:32 PM »

There is a large population of them in Amherst Mass and I've seen a couple in my neck of the woods as well.

WV Sawmiller · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2022, 01:21:42 PM »

My wife's aunt had several in her back yard in Mogadore OH not too far from Akron. I assume your black squirrel is a black phase of a Red, or what we call a pine, squirrel and not a fox squirrel.

I hope he/she survives and starts a new colony for you.

aigheadish · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2022, 03:07:43 PM »

Only one I've ever seen was at the Ypsilanti KOA on our RV trip a few months ago, I did a double take when I saw it, weird and neat!

newoodguy78 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2022, 09:02:06 PM »

In this area south west of Amherst I do believe there’s as many or more black ones than grey. Coming from an area that has zero I still find them neat to watch.

KEC · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2022, 09:37:23 PM »

Gray squirrels occur black in color. Never heard of a Red/Pine Squirrel that was black. As to a black squirrel showing up where they are not known to occur, so far as I know, most any kind of mammal can be melanistic. So a black squirrel in the UP may not have origionated from another area. I've seen black woodchucks. As I understand it, black panthers are melanistic jaguars.

Don P · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2022, 09:44:27 PM »

There's a small town southeast of Duluth where they are protected, I saw more black than grey there. Every town needs some claim to fame. In the email today, BRDC just started preorder on squirrel T shirts with all our natives on it.

Ed · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2022, 12:31:12 AM »

We've had blacks and greys here for 4-5 years now. Closest I ever saw them was 20 miles north, took a while, but they're here.
Strange, but they aren't in town yet, our woods is 1/2 mile away.

Ed

Jeff · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2022, 07:24:04 AM »

I suppose one could of hitched a ride somehow at one time, as we have more than enough at the Harrison House. We had a really cool looking one this past winter hanging out.

The most likely place for one to hitch a ride would have been in the frame of my lt30

Ron Scott · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2022, 06:12:37 PM »

Have 2 or more black squirrels in my back yard along with some grey squirrels daily. The blacks are a grey variety.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2022, 02:52:56 AM »

Have never seen any white or brown black bears here yet, but on the west coast they got'm. So one never knows when an animal shows up with different colors.

Ron Scott · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2022, 06:43:45 PM »

A Silver Bear was just caught on a game camera in the western UP.

beenthere · « **Reply #14 on:** September 16, 2022, 07:57:40 PM »

Ron
Would that be a silvertip bear? Any pics of links to that catch?

Jeff · « **Reply #15 on:** September 16, 2022, 08:16:13 PM »

Yea! Real interested since that's where I'm at!

Jeff · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2022, 08:17:24 PM »

I found this
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2022/09/one-in-a-million-white-spirit-bear-spotted-in-michigans-upper-peninsula.html?outputType=amp

Ron Scott · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2022, 08:15:45 PM »

Yes, that's it. and in the "western U.P." I thought early reports said the eastern U.P. There are more pictures coming out now of it on Facebook. I haven't seen any follow up on it from the DNR yet though.

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