Black Squirrel

[Badger Watching Man]

I saw my first ever black (grey) squirrel today - absolutely jet black! It dashed across the footpath in front of me and disappeared into the woods, unfortunately far too quick for me to even think about getting my camera out.

I've heard that they are on the increase because the black gene is dominant. Searching the forum, I see that someone else reported one in 2006 near Woburn in Bedfordshire, which is pretty much where I live, so it sounds like we have a population here.

Does anyone know of anywhere where the black squirrels have started to rival the normal greys? It would be interesting to see if this has happened.

Thanks

BWM

[chrysalis_stage]

There are black squirrels in Cambridge. I saw one where I used to live which is right near the centre. I go to Anglia Ruskin University and it was round the back of there by the amazing Mill Road Cemetery, I heard someone is doing research on them at ARU.

[Rob_D]

How to Use Hardy-Weinberg to Find Gene

Many students erroneously assume that the dominant allele will most assuredly be the most frequent phenotype. Mr. G.H. Hardy himself wrote to correct this misconception in Science, vol. 28, 1908, when he stated that 'there is not the slightest foundation for the idea that a dominant character should show a tendency to spread over a whole population, or that a recessive should tend to die out.' The squirrel

Be careful BMW - dominant or recessive genes does not mean more frequent/less frequent!

There are lots of black squirrels around Hitchin/Letchworth area and they have been living round here for nearly 100 years. There are also grey squirrels living alongside these black ones near here. The blacks have spread in the 100 years, but it's not certain that will continue. They've also been around near Princeton, USA alot longer and the black allele is still only present in a small pocket. In other places in the USA they have suddenly spread. Perhaps there is a reason, perhaps it is just random chance.

Precision Blogging: Black Squirrels at Princeton University:

Frequency of 'domineering' black squirrel sightings set to increase

It is also difficult to see that there is any specific survival advantage in being black or whether it is a case of the reverse. There are numerous reports of the black squirrels being more aggressive which could be due to the presence of higher levels of testosterone.

I am very skeptical about the recent newspaper headlines, and even about some of the statements made by East Anglia Ruskin researchers, but it's intriguing isn't it?

[Badger Watching Man]

Interesting - I guess the slight knowledge of genetics I picked up in my Biology O-level may be letting me down! At least we won't be seeing the end of the grey squirrel any time soon, unlike the predictions.

Mind you, the black one was very striking. I'll have to try and spot it again.

[Natasha_38]

I used to have both grey & black squirrels living together in my loft a few years ago, they all seemed to get on fine although you could hear the odd squabble between them in the evenings! They lived there for a couple of years, climbing up the ivy to get through a tiny space. They didn't apper to have done much damage so I just left them to it.
I currently live in Letchworth which has had black squirrels for years & have quite a few around my house but only see a couple of greys, the black squirrels appear to dominate the area. I have just spent the afternoon watching one completely dismantle all my bird feeders & stuff his face despite having put nuts for him!! Although absolutely gorgeous he is quite aggressive & has had a go at a couple of the magpies & crows that have come down to try & feed.