“Black” gray squirrels are a melanistic (darkly pigmented) variant that can be locally common, as in the Wooster area. I was simultaneously struck by something else — the squirrel appeared ...

Often these squirrels will have a black body and a rusty tail. Some will have patches of white on their bellies or tail. No matter what, these melanistic squirrels really stand out. To be clear ...

As well as albino squirrels, there are also 'melanistic' squirrels. These squirrels have a surfeit of melanin, making them black all over. Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been ...