The Black Squirrel is a melanistic color variant of the Eastern Gray Squirrel, not a separate species, and is disproportionately common in some urban parks across the Midwest and Northeast. The melanistic gene provides a thermoregulatory advantage in colder climates, allowing these squirrels to warm up faster in morning sunlight. Some cities—like Marysville, Kansas—have adopted the black squirrel as a town mascot.
Habitat
Urban parks, deciduous forests, and residential areas
Diet
Acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, and fungi
How common
Uncommon
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