Comments on: Springy Ding Ding

By: Scary Shari

Scary Shari — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 07:43:51 +0000

Greetings from another squirrel-lover! :wave: Here in the South Bay/Silicon Valley area of Northern California, we have a large population of Eastern Gray Squirrels. I’m sure we have our own native Western Grays too, but I don’t see them much in urban areas, and my large townhouse complex definitely only has Eastern Grays.

At any rate, I’ve noticed that the few BLACK squirrels around here are often more aggressive toward their fellow squirrels than the grays are. They’re also more skittish around humans and totally avoid contact with humans (versus the grays, two of whom have even become my friends). A black squirrel even had the nerve to squawk at me for no reason, whereas no gray has ever done so. :shocked:

I’ve asked many people if they’ve noticed any personality and/or temperament differences in black squirrels (some folks in my complex, and some in other cities completely). Interestingly enough, I’d say about 90% of everyone said the SAME things about black squirrels as I have!! I know the black (or “melanistic”) fur coloring is caused by a genetic mutation, but I’m puzzled about how that may affect personality/temperament. Perhaps the gene that codes for coat color also codes for this?

Anyway, I’m rambling. It’s time for me to get some sleep. I’ll check back here in a few days. Good night all and have a great weekend! :lazy:

By: Leanne

Leanne — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 16:14:47 +0000

Chickadee – THANK YOU thank you thank you for mentioning my little ditty! I was starting to feel silly for singing out loud like that. :slaphappy:

I had forgotten that black squirrels are still mainly around my area. I was told at one point that they were bred here locally and got loose, or something. I don’t know how true it is, but that so many of you had never seen one before makes me think there’s a shred of truth to the old story!

If it makes any of you feel better, I woke up to 2 inches of snow today. :bawling:

By: Plain Jane

Plain Jane — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 00:14:49 +0000

WOW! Black squirrels… how cool! We have just the usual kind and even they have been scare since the hawk episode, I hope they’re still around but maybe just down the street aways. 🙁

By: Chickadee

Chickadee — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 04:30:15 +0000

LMAO!!! OMG, I’m going to have to share that Nuthatch “Song” with my bird nerd friends.

Aren’t Juncos gorgeous? Next time you’re outside, try to pay attention to their song. They sound like a sewing machine, I kid you not.

By: D

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:02:50 +0000

:jawdrop: I have NEVER seen a black squirrel! Too Cool! Thanks for the awesome shot…

By: Lazy Daisy

Lazy Daisy — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:17:20 +0000

Shows what I know…I thought it was a bug zapper too! I gave you a shout out in my T13 today….just came by to tip my hat and tell you how awesome you are…everybody needs a little love some days! Bowing to your brilliance oh brown rice queen! :thanku:

By: jenny

jenny — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 13:09:06 +0000

Aw, I love juncos. We have them by the million up here in Massachusetts – they go crazy for the feeders before/during/after a snowstorm. They’re such a cute handful of birdie.

But I have never in my life seen a black squirrel. neat. and he sounds just as scavengerish as the lovely grey.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 03:06:04 +0000

That’s the first time I have seen a black squirrel! I didn’t know there was such a thing. 🙂

By: Kat

Kat — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:31:17 +0000

I can't wait for SPRING! Canada has notoriously loooooong winters which I am not very fond of. :grumpy: Thanks for the preview, Leanne. :thanku: