Garbage Squirrels

[lydamorehouse]

Today, while driving Shawn into work, I spotted something on the boulevard that looked like a piece of trash.  Two seconds later, my brain registered a fluffy tail.  Then, I realized what I saw was actually an albino squirrel.  I remarked to Shawn that white is actually a surprisingly good camouflage in our litter-heavy modern era.  She laughed and said, “Maybe the next step in squirrel evolution will be to develop bright red fur with little golden arches on them!”

 

I think she might be right.

Comments

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that one of the plot elements in The Mote in God's Eye?

[lydamorehouse]

I guess I have to admit to not having read that... Tell me more?

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I don't know if I can get a whole lot more specific without being spoilery -- is that okay?

Squirrel Evolution

[holy-toledo.livejournal.com]

If you're curious about the future of the squirrel race, you ought to go hang out on Northrup Mall at the U. Last I saw, the red and gray squirrels had created themselves some kind of new species, AND, I kid you not, one day I saw a PITCH BLACK squirrel! I did six takes at least, but honest to God, it was a SQUIRREL!

As for the albino, that's actually the third or fourth one I've heard of in the last two years. Weird.

-Mel

Re: Squirrel Evolution

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

Black squirrels were a standard thing (more common than gray or brown) on campus when I was in college in central Illinois back in the day. So, in their case at least, they aren't uncommon in some areas - just maybe becoming more so where you are?

We have white squirrel in our neighborhood - not albino, but white. And man, is it *mean* (probably has to be to make up for its obvious pigmentation).

Re: Squirrel Evolution

[lydamorehouse]

LaCrosse, the town I grew up in, had a very localized population of black squirrels. They were so unusual that they were studied by national scientists. My father is/was very up on this phenomenon, but I don't know nearly as much about as he does.

[seanmmurphy.livejournal.com]

Actually, in the last ten years, albino, white, black, and gray/rust colored variations of squirrels have become much, much more common. (The difference between a white squirrel and an alboni is whether the eyes are also devoid of pigment, which is part of the definition of an albino.) I rarely go a week without seeing a black or white/albino squirrel. And I've noticed a strong trend of red/rust color in the tails and hindquarters of gray squirrels, too.

But then, I've noticed this not just in the cities, but even in state parks a hundred or so miles out.