North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Caren Kirk <quirky@videotron.ca>]

Hello, I feel guilty about starting all this squirrel talk!

At first I did think that the black squirrels in our neighbourhood might 
just be a colour variation, but if you study them they are smaller and 
thinner than the greys. I am not an expert on squirrel community dynamics, 
however I am quite sure that they are territorial. I do believe that these 
black ones have established a family that's been here for quite some time 
and they seem to try and keep the bigger, more aggresive greys away.

Whether they are really distinct or being smaller and thinner comes from the 
genetics of the original family members who knows. It could also be that the 
grays in the surrounding area put enough pressure on their habitat (as well 
as us humans of course) that they remain fairly undersized as squirrels go. 
Or any combination of the above.

Regardless, I do find them kind of special and they are definitely part of 
the neighbourhood. Also I agree that if they were gone, I would be much more 
frightened of being invaded by a loud clan of audacious greys that would 
probably strip EVERYTHING! I think I might stick with my more timid blacks 
for now and see how things develop as the tree (and the new pear I planted 
next to it) grows. If I get fed up I can always use it as an excuse to get a 
dog, or I'll set my in-laws on them.

Thanks to you all for your input,

Caren.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judson Frisk" <jlfrisk@iowatelecom.net>
To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Pear Thief


> We have black squirrels here in SW Iowa but I believe that they are a 
> black
> phase of the Fox squirrel not the Gray.  Judson L. Frisk
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Woodard
> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 7:04 AM
> To: North American Fruit Explorers
> Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Pear Thief
>
> Caren, the black squirrels are a colour form of the grey. I noticed that
> around Kingston ON they are almost all black. Here in St. Catharines, we
>  have a mixture, along with some that are reddish/brownish grey.
>
> Doug Woodard
> St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
>
>
> Caren Kirk wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> > I have to say I might have trouble killing off the local squirrel
> > family, They're a special black variety, quite rare and I like that they
> > are trying to keep the fatter, bossier greys away.
>
> [snip]
>
> > Caren.
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