Seeing Black Squirrels in Your Illinois Backyard? Here’s Why

I spotted a black squirrel in my backyard yesterday, and that's the third one I've seen this week.  Got me wondering why they've started popping up around town a lot more lately.

It turns out, black squirrels are pretty common!  They're not a separate species, they're usually eastern gray squirrels with a genetic variation called melanism.  That causes their fur to appear black instead of the familiar gray color.  Black color variations can also occur in fox squirrels, although they're less common.

The Illinois Natural History Survey I read confirms that these different color variations happen across the state!

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So why are we seeing a lot more black squirrels now?

Their dark fur may help them in the cold weather.  Research found that black squirrels can retain heat more effectively than gray squirrels in cold conditions.  That advantage may help explain why darker squirrels are more common in colder parts of North America, including the Midwest. [Journals]

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You might be noticing one for the first time, or seeing a different color than what's normally around your neighborhood.  Spotting even one in my backyard makes me instantly start Googling is it's normal!  Keep an eye out next time you're outside, you'll probably start seeing black squirrels roaming your neighborhood now that I mentioned it!