Concerned nature lovers scare away squirrels when they are black. They fear the maroon rodents are in danger. However, deterrence measures are not necessary, because the black-colored specimens represent only one color variant.

Black squirrels are nothing more than black colored Eurasian squirrels

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Black squirrels
  3. Squirrels and Gray Squirrels
  4. support squirrels
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • Eurasian squirrels can be black in color. The gray squirrel is an introduced species of American origin. Both species cannot be distinguished from each other by the color of their fur but by body features.
    • Black squirrels are more common at high altitudes and during the winter months. So far there are no gray squirrels in Germany.
    • Gray squirrels are in competition with squirrels because of their similar lifestyle. They live in deciduous and mixed forests and have better food-gathering strategies.
    • Squirrels, regardless of their fur coloration, can be nurtured in winter. At the moment they are not endangered.

    Are there black squirrels?

    The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is native to Europe and is usually reddish in color. There are numerous color variations ranging from reddish brown to reddish gray and brown gray to black. Characteristic is their clearly white belly.

    The native squirrel can also be black in color. However, his belly is white.

    In order for squirrels to get through the winter, they change their coat in the fall. Their winter fur is shorter and thicker than their summer fur. It has a high proportion of gray so that the animals are better camouflaged from predators in the grey-white winter landscape. Such animals are often mistaken for gray squirrels, which are not native to Europe.

    Black squirrels - origin

    The American gray squirrel is also sometimes referred to as the black squirrel

    The black squirrel is not just a color variety of the native species. The American gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) also bears this misleading name. It is native to the US and Canada. Humans have introduced the animal to Europe, where it is increasingly expanding into Britain, Ireland and Italy. In England, the Eurasian squirrel is almost extinct due to the high pressure of competition. So far, the introduced species is missing in Germany. Experts suspect that it will also spread to Central Europe in the coming decades.

    background

    Black squirrels crowd out red animals

    The American tree squirrel species has proven to be particularly robust. It carries a pathogen that does not cause the animals themselves to become ill. However, this pathogen can jump from the gray squirrel to the squirrel. This parapoxvirus (English: squirrelpox virus) is life-threatening for the native species and ensures that the squirrel population is declining.

    Gray squirrel diet:

    • mainly seeds and buds
    • preferred by beech, spruce, larch and birch
    • also tree bark and mushrooms
    • occasional insects and frogs
    • also young birds and eggs

    Geographical barriers such as settlements, rivers or suboptimal landscapes do not pose an obstacle to the migration of gray squirrels. In Central European deciduous and mixed forests, they have a clear advantage over squirrels, because they are actually dependent on coniferous forests.

    Dealing with gray squirrels

    Sciurus carolinensis is on the European list of undesirable species while Sciurus vulgaris is classified as Least Concern. In England, the gray squirrel population is estimated at 2.5 million. Various measures are being taken to protect the native species:

    • Catch and shoot gray squirrels
    • Call for reporting of gray squirrel sightings by private individuals
    • Educating the public about the problems
    • Admonition to dismantle squirrel and bird feeders
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    Distinguish between squirrels and gray squirrels

    The species imported from America is usually uniformly colored. Only rarely do color variations or slightly different nuances occur. They reach a height of 30 centimeters. The tail is up to 20 centimeters long. Gray squirrels weigh between 400 and 700 grams. They have a significantly longer life expectancy than the native species. Sciurus carolinensis can live ten to twelve years. In comparison, it is twice as large and does not move as quickly as its European relative.

    gray squirrel squirrel
    ears no brush ears typical tufts of hair at the tips of the ears
    stomach indistinctly colored white colored pure white, sharply demarcated
    typical coat color gray to ocher maroon to reddish brown
    color variations light silver-grey, dark black-grey, very rarely reddish Red-brown, red-grey, brown-grey, black
    tail with white borders without white borders
    anatomy plump, shorter neck, prominent skull dainty, longer neck, narrow skull

    Lifestyle of gray squirrels

    These tree squirrels are omnivores that are not picky about their food. When food is scarce, cannibalism can occur. It lives in the forest and finds protection from predators in the undergrowth. Compared to the squirrel, the gray squirrel spends much more time on the ground. It does not go into hibernation, but feeds on self-created food reserves during the cold season.

    digression

    The problem-solving ability of gray squirrels

    Gray squirrels seem to use better foraging tactics than squirrels. English squirrel experts found this out in an experiment. It could be one reason why the introduced species benefits from a survival advantage and prevails over the competition.

    Results of the investigation

    • Gray squirrels made several short attempts
    • Squirrels spent a long time on an experiment
    • Gray squirrels used different tactics than squirrels

    While both species performed equally well on a simple experimental setup, more squirrels failed the complex task that followed. Around 90 percent of gray squirrels were able to solve the problem, while only about 70 percent of red squirrels were successful.

    Similar reproduction among both species

    Gray squirrels and red squirrels produce two litters per year, and three if the weather conditions are favourable. The American representatives have no fixed mating times. However, juveniles between September and December are uncommon. A female can give birth to up to seven young per litter after about 45 days.

    In the first few weeks, the naked and blind creatures have to be suckled every three to four hours. They leave the nest for the first time after seven weeks. At the age of ten weeks they are weaned from their mother and only eat solid food. They leave their mother after a month.

    How to support squirrels

    Especially in winter, squirrels can be supported with food

    At the moment, the native tree squirrels do not have to fear competition from the American gray squirrel. If you spot a black squirrel in winter, encourage it, not drive it away. It is looking for food to survive the winter.

    tips

    Pregnant squirrels have a particularly high food requirement. Since the gestation period begins in January, you should offer food at the end of the year.

    offer food

    The animals are dependent on high-energy food in winter. Provide a feeding place for the squirrels. Hazelnuts and walnuts are ideal. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are accepted, as are dried corn kernels and pine nuts. Sweet chestnuts are a delicacy with a short shelf life. Therefore, they should not be offered permanently.

    Supplementary feed:

    • local fruits such as apples and pears
    • Vegetables like cucumber, broccoli and carrots
    • grapes or raisins

    tips

    Avoid exotic fruits, because these have a particularly long journey behind them.

    frequently asked Questions

    Can red and black squirrels coexist?

    When it comes to color variations of the native squirrel, different colored animals can live in one region at the same time. They are not in competition with each other because the coat color is comparable to human hair color. Mammal researchers found that the proportion of black-colored squirrels is higher in higher mountain areas like the Black Forest or the Alps in Bavaria than in the lowlands. However, dark and light colored squirrels can also exist in a litter.

    Possible reasons for the geographic distribution:

    • greater humidity due to higher precipitation levels
    • cooler temperatures or larger temperature differences
    • special food at high altitudes
    • hereditary factors

    In which forests are squirrels found?

    Pine trees must be up to 40 years old before they bear fruit

    The mammals depend on forests of a certain minimum age. This claim is based on food. Squirrels are primarily seed eaters, collecting cones and fruit from deciduous and coniferous trees. It takes a few years for the trees to produce enough fruit. Therefore, squirrels are dependent on old trees.

    • jaw: first cone production after 30 to 40 years
    • Spruce: forms cones after 50 to 60 years
    • beech: bears fruit for the first time after 50 to 80 years

    Why are there so many black squirrels in some years?

    The production of fruits and seeds varies from year to year. As a rule, there is a so-called mast year every four years, in which an excessive number of tree seeds are formed. During these years, the squirrel population also increases massively, so that suddenly many more black squirrels can appear at higher altitudes.

    Can gray squirrels transmit diseases?

    The American species is a carrier of the parapoxvirus. It is a smallpox virus that causes no symptoms in gray squirrels. By using the same nests at different times, it can be transmitted to the Eurasian red squirrel and cause what is known as squirrel pox. The animals suffer from weight loss as they eat less food. Infection just before winter can be fatal.

    How do gray squirrels spread in Italy and England?

    Larger populations of pine martens have been observed in England in recent years. It is believed that the heavier and less agile gray squirrels fall prey to these mammals faster than the European specimens. Irish studies suggest that extensive pine marten populations could counteract the displacement of the Eurasian red squirrel.

    Starting from Italy, some gray squirrels have spread to the Swiss border. Here there are observations of a coexistence of both species. So far, they have not pushed out the native animals because they do not find optimal living conditions in the coniferous forests there.

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Animals in the garden