DETROIT – Black squirrels are estimated to be one in 10,000.
So why does it feel like every other squirrel in Michigan looks dressed for Halloween?
Seriously, studies say more than half of the squirrels in Michigan are black. That’s not normal. They’re so common here that they have broken into multiple coworkers’ homes and have interrupted multiple Tigers games.
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It’s not a different species. They’re eastern gray squirrels with a mutation that causes their bodies to produce more dark pigment.
They’re found primarily around the Great Lakes, with the highest numbers in Michigan and Ontario.
The mutation involves the MC1R gene and can result in that jet-black coat. And for some reason, that reverse albino mutation seems to be beneficial to squirrels in Michigan.
Scientists think the dark fur may help them absorb more heat during Michigan’s harsh winters. It may also provide better camouflage from predators at night.
And because black squirrels stand out more during the day, they’re more visible to drivers and less likely to become roadkill.
And while folklore has linked them to magic and prophecy, science points to something more straightforward: genetics. Michigan’s climate and environment may simply be an ideal setting for that gene to flourish.
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