Friday, September 4, 2009

Blond Squirrels

At first glance, you might not think that the coloring of this squirrel is all that unusual.



You might even determine that the lighting enhanced it's lighter tones, but keep looking...




A town not far from where I live is not-so-famous for their "white squirrels". I wouldn't call them white, but they are definately a paler version of your average fox squirrel. The park for which they are "not-famous" holds at least 2 of them, and a few years back, there were a few more.



They seem to act just like your every day squirrel, and seem to be just as sizeable, but the tails seem less furry. A bit scraggly/skinny...





Anyway, I take some time to visit them when other wildlife is hard to find, but researching them on the web has come up dry. They are not albino, just tinted quite a bit lighter. Are they in a class by themselves? I don't know, but I love that I have the opportunity to see them in a town close by.

9 comments:

Montanagirl said...

He really is light colored. Maybe it's a hybrid! lol

Richard said...

I like his red socks.

jalynn01 said...

I've seen a black squirrel but never a blonde one!! I wonder...should I ask.. did they act blonde? haha Great captures Hannabal.

Coy Hill said...

Nice shots of an interesting little critter.

I'm not supprised by the light color phase as I have observed fox squirrels that were jet black with silver guard hair giving them a frosty sheen, fox squirrels of normal coloration, and light color phase fox squirrels that looked almost ghost like all in the same woodlot but the scrawney tail is a new one for me. Interesting to say the least.

Tami Weingartner said...

I have never seen one this color. What a lovely little guy/gal. Do they darken in the winter or stay this color year round?

Tina said...

Never knew these guys existed..this is like a nat'l geo special..but right in your own back yard ..so to speak!

Eve said...

It's like my pale dove from last year!

CJ said...

I took a picture of a blonde fox squirrel yesterday in my neighborhood. We have been seeing him since around June. It has been very hard to get the picture. If I knew how to send the pic, I would.

Viv said...

We have a girl blonde squirrel for two years now. She has had 6 kits. She comes up to us to feed. We call her Billie! I have put pictures of her on YouTube called Billie the blonde squirrel!