Squirrel News

(Photo: Albi the Squirrel - see story below)

It's been a while since I wrote about my squirrels. I'm happy to report that there are as many as ever, and they all look nice and fat and healthy. No gimpy squirrels, but there is one who seems to be exhibiting early symptoms of the twitchy disease. I hope it will survive the winter. It looks young - usually it strikes older squirrels. That worries me. When I sell this house, which if all goes according to plan (very iffy at this point), will close on February 26, 2010, the squirrels should be able to make it into spring on their own. I am giving them extra provisions this winter that they are diligently burying -- the entire yard may one day be an almond orchard :) There will most likely be new squirrels at the new house, which is right next to a very tiny pocket park with three very tall oak trees. But I will miss my squirrels here. Here is some squirrel news: Ralph the squirrel goes free.. Posted Monday, December 14, 2009, at 4:14 PM (Ralph is actually a she) Hope for Red Squirrels in Merseyside BBC News Page last updated at 13:28 GMT, Wednesday, 9 December 2009 I don't know how I managed to miss this: Rocky and Bullwinkle celebrate 50 years as a happy couple (sort of reminds me of Mr. Don and I, har!) Moose and Squirrel Celebrate Their 50th Anniversary Robert J. Elisberg Columnist and screenwriter Posted: November 19, 2009 03:30 PM White Squirrels Thrive in Marionville Reported by: Rob Evans Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009 @05:38am CST And they thrive in Dorking, England too, where the death of Albi, a white squirrel, generated buzz around the world White squirrel death goes global Page last updated at 16:10 GMT, Monday, 23 November 2009

Albino Squirrel Sighting!

From Buckinghamshire Free Press.UK

Ghostly white creature makes rare appearance
By James Nadal
6:26pm Wednesday 4th June 2008

A GHOSTLY furry white figure surprised a family when they looked into their back garden.

The Skipp family from Clearbrook Close, Loudwater, were amazed to discover an unusual visitor had crept into their garden for a snack-an albino squirrel.

It was first seen on Monday by Melanie Skipp, 27, and has been spotted every day since. She said: "I was at home on my lunch break and spotted something white and furry in my back garden.

"At first I thought it was a little kitten then realised to my amazement that it was a pure white squirrel with red eyes. I managed to quickly find a camera and take this picture of it.

"It ate some nuts from the bird feeder and then had a quick drink from the bird bath. I was so excited. I think Bill Oddie would be proud."

Although Miss Skipp's photo was blurred, the squirrel can clearly be distinguished.

Albino squirrels are extremely rare - only one in 100,000 are born with the condition which is caused by a gene inherited from the parents. The striking all white red-eyed nut eaters can have grey siblings because the gene is not dominant.

There was a sighting in a village near Ashford, Kent in March this year and there have been reports of others in Hampshire and Berkshire over the last 18 months.

Mother Nora Skipp said: " It turns up around lunch time - it's a late riser. It's certainly smaller than the other squirrels but it held its own against the two grey ones and it was fighting for peanuts. Our next door neighbour has sighted it as well.

"I think he's here to stay. He's found our bird food table and I'm expecting to see him daily. The squirrels all live across the road in Magpie woods and come across from there. It's cute that's for sure."

The unusual animal has a fan club in Texas - the Albino Squirrel Preservation Society - dedicated "to the protection of all squirrels, especially those that are albino."

White Albino Squirrel Captured on Film

Beautiful!

From the Gazettelive.co.uk
Hemlington & Colby Newham [I just love those British place names]
White albino squirrel captured by Hemlington photographer
Posted by Fiona - Administrator on March 3, 2008 2:07 PM

NO you’re not going nuts - it really is a white squirrel.

The cute looking albino animal was spotted by Gazette reader Darren Clark.

White albino squirrels are a rare sight, but Darren was lucky enough to see this one looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at Pinchinthorpe Woods near Guisborough.

Amateur photographer Darren, 36, of Hemlington, said: “It was just sat in a field. We thought it was a weasel or something else at first. Then when we followed it, it was straight up a tree.

“We spent about two hours trying to get a picture of it. I was quite surprised. It’s the first one I have ever seen. I’ve never heard of them before.”

Darren, who works as a geologist, added: “I do a lot of wildlife photography anyway.

“It was nice to see something different. It is the rarest thing I have seen. Everyone will be out there looking for it now!”

Darren researched his sighting and discovered that albino squirrels are “extremely rare”.

“They have got poor eyesight. I suppose this makes them easy prey for predators such as foxes and birds of prey.”

Although they are rare, it is not the first time they have been sighted locally.

An albino squirrel was photographed at Newton Wood, situated below Roseberry Topping, in April 2007.

As well as grey, red and albino, black squirrels can also be found in this country.

There is a significant colony of black squirrels in Letchworth Garden City, Herts, where a pub was even named after them.

Other all-white animals found in the UK have included an albino wallaby, spotted near Milton Keynes.
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An albino WALLABY? In England? Did it swim there from Australia, perchance, mate?