Two readers sent me squirrel photos today! (And, because I’m feeling generous, my own brood got extra walnuts.)
From reader Phil, a genuine albino (as opposed to leucistic) squirrel:
Attached is a photo you may wish to add to your inventory of squirrel pictures. It’s a white squirrel in a tree just a couple of feet outside my front door. The photo isn’t up to the artistic or technical standards that most of your featured wildlife photos. I saw the squirrel as I was coming home, it stayed still long enough for me to pull out my little carry everywhere Fuji point-and-shoot camera and get off a couple of shots. The photo is from September 2010.
This was perhaps the last white squirrel in my neighborhood. I’d seen a couple of white squirrels a few blocks away the previous two or three years but none since.
From reader Randy:
It is just after 1 PM on Tuesday, March 24, and outside it is raining buckets and 39 degrees. Not very pleasant at all. Yet there is the Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) busy as ever and soaked as he can be. There is no Free Will for the squirrel.
I’ll have to start hiking with some real camera gear so I can get you a decent shot of the sqrlz at Dobbins Lookout….
b&
Many years ago I remember Camelback and Superstition but don’t remember South Mountain.
Scottsdale – 1962/64
South Mountain Park is absolutely wonderful. It’s the biggest city park in perhaps the world. Nothing but wonderful trails in basically-undisturbed Sonoran desert. You’ve either got a sweeping panoramic view of the whole Valley or you’ve just crossed a ridge and might as well be in the middle of nowhere. You’ve got all the iconic vegetation of the Sonoran desert all around you, and as much wildlife as anybody is likely to encounter anywhere here.
Haven’t been to Camelback in quite some time. Need to remedy that.
The Lost Dutchman State Park (where the Superstition Mountains begin) is another favorite of mine, but it’s much smaller with many fewer trails than South Mountain.
b&
Do you have spotty squirrels – like the ones in California? I think those are really cute!
Hmmm…don’t really remember any spots, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to the patterning.
I’ll have to get a good picture to settle the question….
b&
Just saw four white squirrels in our neighborhood while on a walk.
Just saw four white squirrels in our neighborhood while on a walk.
Phil, where is your lovely leafy neighborhood? Gorgeous sqrl:-)
The grey squirrel I was calling Grey Beard is pregnant! Henceforth she will be named The Grey Lady.
No need to apologize Phil – I think it’s a great pic, and a gorgeous squirrel (is there any other kind?). 🙂
+1 !
From reader Phil, a genuine albino (as opposed to leucistic) squirrel.
A self-portrait-taking squirrel that can also use email. Now that’s something one doesn’t see every day!
🙂
Thanks, Phil and Randy. Love your squirrel photos.
Speaking of white animals. for those readers living in Canada, CBC’s The Nature of Things will be featuring The Spirit Bear, a white black bear!
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/spirit-bear-family
On the central coast of British Columbia in the Great Bear Rainforest, there lives a creature of legend: the Spirit Bear. The Kermode bear, known as the “Spirit Bear” is a rare white furred, black bear. And this is the only place in the world where they can be found.
Are any black bears actually black? I believe that most black bears are brown, and now we have a white one…