Black Squirrel

[Info Freak]

Hi all, I have seen a black squirrel roaming around in my garden. It is quite tame and is often around. Out of intrest I have filmed it and taken some close very good pictures. I'm presuming that it is some kind of mutation of a common squirrel. Does any one know any more? I have never seen or heard of a black squirrel before and would like to know more if anyone can help.

Thanks in advance.

[gen2]

This is a genetic mutation.  Most animals can display two extremes of pigmentation.  A total lack of any pigment leads to the albino form of the animal.  An excess of the black pigment, melanin, leads to a dark or melanic form.  In-between states are also possible.  What you have seen then is a melanic form of a grey squirrel.  This website says they are quite common in the Cambridge area.

[FP]

Letchworth in Hertfordshire is famous for its black squirrels which can be seen quite often, especially on the town's Norton Common.   The first pub in Letchworth (which used to be a 'dry' town) was called 'The Black Squirrel'.

[Gilli]

Further to the Letchworth answer, I've lived in North Herts in various places for the last 15 years.

I used to regularly get black squirrels running up and down my garden fences in Hitchin (about 3 miles from Letchworth) & also spotted them in trees in Stotfold when I lived there (about 3-4 miles in the opposite direction). Obviously they're breeding and spreading very successfully.

I'm now living as far north in Herts as you can possibly go, right on the border with Cambs but haven't yet spotted any here.

[Gilli]

Out of interest Info Freak, whereabouts do you live ?

[Info Freak]

I live in Kensworth in Bedfordshire so it follows the trends with other sightings. thanks for your answers

[cat woman]

Here Letchworth Garden City where i live, we often get black squirrels in our garden. FP is correct, the first pub in Letechworth is called "The Black Squirrel", Ebenezer Howard was the founder of Letchworth. :-)

[cat woman]

"COR" i did loads of spelling mistakes in my thread its gone 11 oclock and the old brain is shutting down!  ;-<>

[FP]

I used to live in Letchworth Cat Woman, and walk across Norton Common to work each day.

[cat woman]

Its a small world FP, I used to work at Irvins next door to the Esso Garage, so i used to see the black squirrels in the common when i walked to work.I now work in the town in a sandwich bar, but i do still see them in the trees which run parallel with the railway line near Spirella. :-)