Mysterious critterA mysterious critter looks like a gray squirrel! (Photo David A. Murray)

In America, the eastern gray squirrel is a very common sight east of the Mississippi River. It possibly is the most recognizable native mammal in that region. In fact, this critter, which you either love or hate, is found everywhere from big city parks to suburban bird feeders to large tracts of corn in farm country. Nevertheless, take the same common most recognizable mammal on the planet and make it black, and, it's a mysterious new critter in your yard that looks like a gray squirrel! Well, mystery solved - it is an eastern gray squirrel, only it's black!

The northern portions of the eastern gray squirrel's range support a healthy population of "melanistic" or black squirrels. Not all of the eastern gray squirrel's range has the black variety. For some readers of this column, you may have never seen this squirrel. However, here in Maine, which is the northern portion of the eastern gray squirrel's range, we have the black eastern gray squirrel predominantly in the southern half of the state. In fact, I wish I had a roll of film for every telephone call and e-mail that I receive each year asking to identify the "black thing" in the yard that looks like a gray squirrel!

The traditional eastern gray squirrel is of course mostly gray. However, similar to another mammal, the fox, this squirrel has "forms" or "phases" of differing colors. Specifically, the red fox also has a black phase in which the entire fox is black, and this is a permanent year-around coat. In addition, the white arctic fox has what is termed a blue phase because of the steel-blue color of its fur. Therefore, as you can see, animals that traditionally or commonly are one color can have a different color phase, and it is not always unusual or rare.

The eastern gray squirrel actually has two other color versions other than gray. One version is rare, and is entirely white. This albino variety exists only in a few areas of the country. The only major wild population of the rare, white, eastern gray squirrel exists in Illinois and is strictly protected. Of course, the other version, as previously mentioned, is the black form. The population of the black eastern gray squirrel is reasonably widespread throughout its northern range, and efforts to expand its range are underway. Recently, the eastern gray squirrel, in the black form, has been trapped in the north and relocated to Washington, D.C. Reports are that the population is thriving and moving out into the surrounding communities.

The eastern gray squirrel usually begins its mating activities in December. Several male squirrels will begin to follow a female until the "time is right." About 40 days later, usually during February or March, a litter of between one and six, with the average being two or three, youngsters are born. Both the gray eastern gray squirrel as well as the black eastern gray squirrel is possible in the same litter. The mother squirrel does not differentiate between the two forms, although the percentage of gray born to black is considerably higher.

The life span of the average eastern gray squirrel is surprisingly only about one year. This is due to a variety of reasons, some of which are lack of winter food sources, parasites, hunting, predators, and road kills.

Personally, my theory is that the percentage of black squirrels killed to its gray counterpart is significantly higher. These observations are based on the number one killer (in my region), which is road kills. Since squirrels are most active in the early morning and late afternoon before dark, a black squirrel is much more difficult to see for a motorist than a gray squirrel. In addition, if hunted, a black squirrel is much easier to see up in a tree than a gray squirrel. For these reasons, along with the black phase having a smaller percentage of the population to begin with, a black eastern gray squirrel sighting is out of the ordinary.

Everything reflects light. However, the two color extremes of white and black do present a challenge for camera light meters and photographers. A camera's light meter is designed to read the light and present you with the proper setting for a middle-tone subject. Obviously, the color black is not a middle-tone, and attempts at metering a black subject, without adjustment, will produce disappointing results.

The best approach for photographing a black subject, such as the black phase eastern gray squirrel, is to meter a middle-tone subject or object that is in the same light as the black squirrel. Once you have the middle-tone reading, open up between a half and one full stop. This will allow additional light into the camera and will give definition to the black subject. The amount to open up will depend on how much of the frame is occupied by the black subject. Experiment and keep track of your results - experience is the best teacher.

Good shooting!

For questions or comments, e-mail: mail@davidamurray.com.

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