The Family

[SophieSquirrel]

Here are the "kids". Sophie (melanistic), Kami (FL Gray), Lady (partially paralyzed melanistic), Jill and Beatrice (FL Grays), Lucky (chocolate), Buddi (Achondroplastic Dwarf) & Patchi the Prairie Dog. All are NR's due to neurological, developmental or physical injury issues. All but Buddi and Lady are much older now.

Lady


Jill and Beatrice

Buddi

Sophie

Patchi PD


Kami

Lucky

[LR]

That's a double fist full of cuteness you have there! Welcome to TSB.

[Jennefer]

Hold the phone sister....where in Florida are you finding black squirrels???!!!??? Omg i'd give my left arm to even see one in person!!! I was born & raised in Florida & lived from south to central to north Fla & have never even seen one!!! Thank you for sharing!! You have quite a brood there & everyone of them is just precious!!! Lucky, lucky you!! (hubby tells me not to covet ur black squirrels....and he likes Buddi & Patchi!)

[Mel1959]

You have quite the family! They are all adorable. . I have to ask, how did you acquire so many melanistic squirrels in Florida? I was under the impression they were rare here.

I see Jennefer beat me to it....she must type faster! Yes, I love the black squirrels, too!

[SophieSquirrel]

Their lineage is originally from the Midwest, only Kami, Jill and Beatrice are from FL. Patchi came from a nice lady who had to give him up. Originally vacuumed from his burrow for the pet trade he now has a forever home with me. I forgot Winston - my boy. Photos to follow.

[SophieSquirrel]

Here is Winston my lone boy. He came to me with a serious mouth infection, breathing problems and balance issues. He is doing fine now after treatment. Had to feed him some FV 20/50 so he would sit still. He will not use a nipple. I am hoping to make the 2018 meet-up and I will bring one or two.

Winston

[Mel1959]

Are you referring to the 2018 Gathering in Maryland or the 2018 Celebration in Florida?

[muggsy'sgm]

Gorgeous babies!!!

There's a country club here in the Panama City area that's logo is a fox squirrel. Hubby said that back in the eighties, there were giant, black, red, and brownish fox squirrels EVERYWHERE. All over the golf course, hanging out by the clubhouse, running all over the place. I've seen the foxers on here, but the way these have been described: they were simply HUGE.

Not too long ago, we went driving all through the fox squirrel area from the days of yesteryear. The logo is still there, but the squirrels are greatly diminished in number. After twenty minutes, we saw one, lone, small black fox squirrel.

It's weird, because they didn't venture out of that area...they just disappeared.

How lucky you are to have such crazy-good-looking squees!

[SophieSquirrel]

Not too long ago, we went driving all through the fox squirrel area from the days of yesteryear. The logo is still there, but the squirrels are greatly diminished in number. After twenty minutes, we saw one, lone, small black fox squirrel. It's weird, because they didn't venture out of that area...they just disappeared.

It's sad when a beloved population disappears. Some places like Olney, IL and Brevard, NC have developed small economies around them. They face threats from climate, food shortages, habitat destruction/fragmentation, predation, Parapoxvirus, vehicles and with some like Red's competition with Gray's.

Here is a cool article about how Squirrels were once wildly popular pets:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/article...squirrel-craze

I found this really cool tintype photo on the Internet from yesteryear

[Jen413]

There's a stretch of road I travel to and from work on that is pretty rural. I occasionally see the black/brown/white fox squirrels on that road. In the last week two have come too close to my car for comfort. There are so many animals on that road that I always watch for them. The first one I saw in plenty enough time to slow down and it stopped along the side of the road. The second came like a streak of lightening and ran right into my lane. I hit my brakes and by some miracle didn't hit it. They are SO beautiful and I always get so excited to see them. It would absolutely break my heart to know I killed one.

Sorry to thread jack. You have a beautifully special crew!!

[Legomom]

What beautiful babies you have! I just returned from a trip to Ohio and was able to see a couple of melanistic squirrels in the wild. I would love to hold one one day!

[Chickenlegs]

Every one is gorgeous— but you know that. Hi Legomom

[Coffeeculturegvl]

ADORABLE!!!!!!!!