Posted: 7/24/2012 11:43:58 PM EDT
| I havent posted on the forum here for some time. I live in Rochester and spend almost the full small game season hunting. In all these years of hunting I've seen fox squirrels my favorite, grey squirrel, red squirrels and even flying squirrels. I never shot the flying squirrel they are rare to see in the day. But the squirrel I want most are black squirrels. Has anyone ever seen them in SE Minnesota? I only hear stories and never believed that black squirrels were real. Until I was in Wisconsin and happen to see one for myself. I couldn't believe how dark this squirrel was. I have hunted from the Rushford area to Hayfield area and every wood patch in between, for the last 15 years. But this one squirrel haunts my dreams and avoids the frying pan. |
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I am not anywhere near SE Minnesota, more East Central Minnesota, but on a related note I have noticed a significant increase in black squirrels in my area. It used to be a small population of grey squirrels, but the blacks squirrels seem to be more densely populated and perhaps taking over.
I have been told it may have something to do with the Light Rail..? |
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I am not anywhere near SE Minnesota, more East Central Minnesota, but on a related note I have noticed a significant increase in black squirrels in my area. It used to be a small population of grey squirrels, but the blacks squirrels seem to be more densely populated and perhaps taking over. I have been told it may have something to do with the Light Rail..? Now that's funny! 
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I am not anywhere near SE Minnesota, more East Central Minnesota, but on a related note I have noticed a significant increase in black squirrels in my area. It used to be a small population of grey squirrels, but the blacks squirrels seem to be more densely populated and perhaps taking over. I have been told it may have something to do with the Light Rail..? 
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You might want to check with the DNR on taking a black squirrel. (They're called "melanistic," I think.)
Anyway, some states have laws against taking animals with unusual coloration, but it's usually albinos from what I've seen. I'm not sure of MN laws on that though. It might be OK, too. Good luck. |
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No offense, but you have to be a little off to be eating squirrels for dinner, bro. A hot dog has got to have more meat on it than a squirrel, doesn't it?  Squirrels are nummy, bro. ETA: This should in no way be construed as a statement or evidence that I am no also a little off 
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Quoted: I am not anywhere near SE Minnesota, more East Central Minnesota, but on a related note I have noticed a significant increase in black squirrels in my area. It used to be a small population of grey squirrels, but the blacks squirrels seem to be more densely populated and perhaps taking over. I have been told it may have something to do with the Light Rail..? I see what you did there |
| Here in Saint Paul they are quite common. I just saw one today. There used to be an albino squirrel in my hood that drove my dog nuts. I would wake up to my dog freaking out at six in the morning. Now the neighbor's fat cat is the cause of my morning strife. I believe the missing squirrel and the new cat might be connected. |
| I guess I should check about taking Black squirrel. I do know that they are not listed on the DNR MN site. I eat squirrel often during small game season and can only say that they are very good. Much better then some gas station hot dogs. But not as good as deer dogs. Also I think that squirrels don't taste the same. Grey squirrels to me are the least gamie while fox squirrels have a very strong odor and taste just like they smell. But it's my opinion about it. I maybe one of the few people to enjoy a yummy tree rat, other then Hmong people. |
pointnshoot's right, it's just a color phase. Black ones always seem to be more common in town. I've got one that runs around out side my window here at work all the time, but have only seen a few in the wild. (Winona Cty) I did see an albino once a few years ago and hunted him hard all winter but never did get him. 
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| I have always assumed it was a recessive gene trait that showed up from time to time. We had a lot of them at the house that my family moved to in the early 90s, but after 6 or 7 years there were none to be found. We didn't hunt or eat them, and there were plenty of grey squirrels that were grey, but none that were black. |
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I am not anywhere near SE Minnesota, more East Central Minnesota, but on a related note I have noticed a significant increase in black squirrels in my area. It used to be a small population of grey squirrels, but the blacks squirrels seem to be more densely populated and perhaps taking over. I have been told it may have something to do with the Light Rail..? I see what you did there
I see what you saw.
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We have so many black squirrels here in Brainerd lakes area. I think i see more of them than i see gray ones now.
I think the black ones are more smarter because every roadkilled squirrels I see are always the grey ones.. I have never encounterd a black one that could not decide which direction to run after it sees me coming down the street! |
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I think the black ones are more smarter because every roadkilled squirrels I see are always the grey ones.. I have never encounterd a black one that could not decide which direction to run after it sees me coming down the street! Down around University Ave. they just saunter across the street like they own it. They don't care if cars are coming or not. |
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There are a lot of black squirrels in the Lake City Area. It isa genetic trait;
"As a melanistic relative of the Eastern Gray Squirrel, individual black squirrels can exist wherever grey squirrels live. Grey mating pairs can not produce black offspring. Grey squirrels have 2 copies of a normal pigment gene and black squirrels have either 1 or 2 copies of a mutant pigment gene. If a black squirrel has 2 copies of the mutant gene it will be jet black. If it has 1 copy of a mutant gene and 1 normal gene it will be brown-black." |