Comments on: The White Squirrels of Shelton http://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/ Hauntings, Legends, Weird Places, Weird News, Adandoned Places, Strange Animals, Investigations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:10:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Keeliehttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5767 Keelie Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:15:46 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5767 It's funny reading about white squirrels, but also seeing all the comments of people amazed about black ones! I live in Westfield, Massachusetts, and there's black squirrels running all OVER the place up here. Our 'mascot' is even a black squirrel. Not so rare as you all may think. Come visit some time! Hang out in Stanley Park, in Westfield, Ma. You'll see TONS of black squirrels. :) It’s funny reading about white squirrels, but also seeing all the comments of people amazed about black ones! I live in Westfield, Massachusetts, and there’s black squirrels running all OVER the place up here. Our ‘mascot’ is even a black squirrel. Not so rare as you all may think. Come visit some time! Hang out in Stanley Park, in Westfield, Ma. You’ll see TONS of black squirrels. :)

]]> By: Bill Lubakhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5726 Bill Lubak Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:36:51 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5726 I surely beleive that they would have been road kill. I saw a dead black squirrel getting off the exit there at Harper's ferry road. This was reidville Drive /route 84. I do have a few Larger boxes up now but plan on building a few more. I am looking for a place I can buy some cedar and have already downloaded squirrel house plans from the Audobaun. I understood your concerns but I beleive I did the right thing. They have plenty of area here and seem to be fitting in with the rest of the squirrels here. I will keep everyone updated and hopefully add some pictures. Since this is a co-dominant trait, it shouldn't take long to see the progress. I surely beleive that they would have been road kill. I saw a dead black squirrel getting off the exit there at Harper’s ferry road. This was reidville Drive /route 84. I do have a few Larger boxes up now but plan on building a few more. I am looking for a place I can buy some cedar and have already downloaded squirrel house plans from the Audobaun. I understood your concerns but I beleive I did the right thing. They have plenty of area here and seem to be fitting in with the rest of the squirrels here. I will keep everyone updated and hopefully add some pictures. Since this is a co-dominant trait, it shouldn’t take long to see the progress.

]]> By: MisterSpuddyhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5725 MisterSpuddy Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:04:52 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5725 Bill, as I said previously, it's usually NOT a good idea to relocate them because they do best in their home habitat and if moved, those native to the new area may chase them out and they won't have a good source. BUT....in this case it sounds like they would have ended up as road kill if left where they were and it sounds like you're making sure everyone gets fed. Do they have enough shelter/nesting places? Maybe you could slap together some nesting boxes. Bill, as I said previously, it’s usually NOT a good idea to relocate them because they do best in their home habitat and if moved, those native to the new area may chase them out and they won’t have a good source. BUT….in this case it sounds like they would have ended up as road kill if left where they were and it sounds like you’re making sure everyone gets fed. Do they have enough shelter/nesting places? Maybe you could slap together some nesting boxes.

]]> By: Bill Lubakhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5724 Bill Lubak Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:58:05 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5724 On 1/11/2012 I set a trap where my daughter kept seein a jet black squirrel. Keep in mind that this was a very bust area of Waterbury next to busy roads and an interstate. All sightings were in the road! I went back to check the trap and much to my surprise I had not one, but a pair of jet black squirrels! They were immediately released into my yard and seem to be thriving here. Keep in mind that I live adjacent to a far on 2 dead end streets. I feed everything! I go through 80lbs of high end seed, 7 suet cakes, blue seal crunchies and 5lbs of peanuts a week! I have a small pond with waterfall also that is the center of attraction on those hot summer days. My backyard is basically a nature preserve! Even the racoons are welcome and visit nightly. Hopefully this will be the start of a black squirrel colony here in Watertown. On 1/11/2012 I set a trap where my daughter kept seein a jet black squirrel. Keep in mind that this was a very bust area of Waterbury next to busy roads and an interstate. All sightings were in the road! I went back to check the trap and much to my surprise I had not one, but a pair of jet black squirrels! They were immediately released into my yard and seem to be thriving here. Keep in mind that I live adjacent to a far on 2 dead end streets. I feed everything! I go through 80lbs of high end seed, 7 suet cakes, blue seal crunchies and 5lbs of peanuts a week! I have a small pond with waterfall also that is the center of attraction on those hot summer days. My backyard is basically a nature preserve! Even the racoons are welcome and visit nightly. Hopefully this will be the start of a black squirrel colony here in Watertown.

]]> By: Bill Lubakhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5642 Bill Lubak Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:54:50 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5642 Actually the black squirrels that are common around the Washington park/Sylvan area of Waterbury are the product of relocation from Vermont. A wiman who used to live on Sylvan avenue had trapped a couple when in Vermont and released them in Waterbury. That had to be a good 30 years ago from what I remember. These are melanistic. Melanistic animals tend to be more common the farther north you go and that includes snakes. It's natures way of absorbing warmth. Melanism is a co-dominate gene, meaning if a melanistic animal were to breed with a "normal" looking grey squirrel, some of the offspring would be melanistic and some would be normal. The normal looking ones would not have the gene nor be able to pass it on. That differs with the Leucistic squirrels of Shelton and albino squirrels. The leucistic and albino squirrels carry a recessive gene. In order to produce leucistic or albino offpring, both animals would need to carry the recessive gene. Albino to albino would or leucistic to leucistis wouls produce all albino or leucistic animals. An albino or leucistic to a normal colored animal would produce normal looking offspring although about 66% or the normal looking animals would carry the recessive gene. If two normal looking animals carrying the gene were to breed, a certail percentage off offspring would be albino or leucistic. With that said, All black or melanistic animals are more common than leucistic or albinos. Actually the black squirrels that are common around the Washington park/Sylvan area of Waterbury are the product of relocation from Vermont. A wiman who used to live on Sylvan avenue had trapped a couple when in Vermont and released them in Waterbury. That had to be a good 30 years ago from what I remember. These are melanistic. Melanistic animals tend to be more common the farther north you go and that includes snakes. It’s natures way of absorbing warmth. Melanism is a co-dominate gene, meaning if a melanistic animal were to breed with a “normal” looking grey squirrel, some of the offspring would be melanistic and some would be normal. The normal looking ones would not have the gene nor be able to pass it on. That differs with the Leucistic squirrels of Shelton and albino squirrels. The leucistic and albino squirrels carry a recessive gene. In order to produce leucistic or albino offpring, both animals would need to carry the recessive gene. Albino to albino would or leucistic to leucistis wouls produce all albino or leucistic animals. An albino or leucistic to a normal colored animal would produce normal looking offspring although about 66% or the normal looking animals would carry the recessive gene. If two normal looking animals carrying the gene were to breed, a certail percentage off offspring would be albino or leucistic. With that said, All black or melanistic animals are more common than leucistic or albinos.

]]> By: MisterSpuddyhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5621 MisterSpuddy Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:30:31 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5621 Bill, what you are suggesting (relocating) is actually CRUEL to squirrels - not to mention illegal!- and almost guarantees they WON'T survive long enough to enjoy the supposed riches of your yard. Squirrels have home ranges and will drive off any interlopers, which will lead to the new ones starving, getting hit by cars, eaten by prey, etc. LEAVE THE SQUIRRELS IN OTHER AREAS ALONE! I'm sure that you will have squirrels in your own area eating out of your hand if you have patience. Bill, what you are suggesting (relocating) is actually CRUEL to squirrels – not to mention illegal!- and almost guarantees they WON’T survive long enough to enjoy the supposed riches of your yard. Squirrels have home ranges and will drive off any interlopers, which will lead to the new ones starving, getting hit by cars, eaten by prey, etc. LEAVE THE SQUIRRELS IN OTHER AREAS ALONE! I’m sure that you will have squirrels in your own area eating out of your hand if you have patience.

]]> By: Bill Lubakhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-5620 Bill Lubak Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:38:20 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-5620 My daughter saw a jet black squirrel off Reidville drive in Waterbury just the other day. I set 2 havahart traps 2 days straight. I caught 2 grey squirrels the first day and a possum the second day. I am interested in relocating some black and white squirrels to my home in Watertown. My backyard is a sanctuary to everything! If anyone would allow me to set live traps on their property, I would be more than happy to rid them of a few suirrels! My daughter saw a jet black squirrel off Reidville drive in Waterbury just the other day. I set 2 havahart traps 2 days straight. I caught 2 grey squirrels the first day and a possum the second day. I am interested in relocating some black and white squirrels to my home in Watertown. My backyard is a sanctuary to everything! If anyone would allow me to set live traps on their property, I would be more than happy to rid them of a few suirrels!

]]> By: Johnhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-3985 John Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:23:27 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-3985 There is a small colony of white squirrels at Lafayette School. I used to see them there all the time. To be more precise, I believe they are living in or around that old white garage in the parking lot next to the building. They have also spread to Booth Hill park in stratford, or maybe its the other way around, I'm not sure. There is a small colony of white squirrels at Lafayette School. I used to see them there all the time. To be more precise, I believe they are living in or around that old white garage in the parking lot next to the building. They have also spread to Booth Hill park in stratford, or maybe its the other way around, I’m not sure.

]]> By: Andrewhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-3173 Andrew Sun, 12 Jun 2011 11:06:24 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-3173 Grew up in Stratford, and at Long Brooke Park there was a Black squirrel I remember seeing anywhere between the park and the Police station, a few years later it would show up with a white one much like you described. However I didn't realize how they were uncommon till recently Also while attending Stratford Academy I remember seeing a squirrel that appeared to have grey fur and a light orange tail. Whether it was natural or not I cannot say. Grew up in Stratford, and at Long Brooke Park there was a Black squirrel I remember seeing anywhere between the park and the Police station, a few years later it would show up with a white one much like you described. However I didn’t realize how they were uncommon till recently
Also while attending Stratford Academy I remember seeing a squirrel that appeared to have grey fur and a light orange tail.
Whether it was natural or not I cannot say.

]]> By: MisterSpuddyhttp://www.damnedct.com/white-squirrels-shelton/comment-page-1/#comment-3145 MisterSpuddy Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:59:15 +0000 http://www.damnedct.com/?p=209#comment-3145 I saw a white squirrel in Shelton once, just once (but then I don't go there very often) I've seen black ones in Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park in NYC. I have the mostly gray variety, with some red/orange thrown in. Love squirrels, my yard is a wildlife habitat and I've assisted a rehabber friend of mine in the past and would like to do more. And all you squirrel haters- go to Australia, will you? I saw a white squirrel in Shelton once, just once (but then I don’t go there very often) I’ve seen black ones in Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park in NYC.

I have the mostly gray variety, with some red/orange thrown in.

Love squirrels, my yard is a wildlife habitat and I’ve assisted a rehabber friend of mine in the past and would like to do more.

And all you squirrel haters- go to Australia, will you?

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