would not classify this color variant as piebald. Not sure what I would call it...
would not classify this color variant as piebald. Not sure what I would call it...
My educated guess would be partial melanism or partially melanistic.
Look up the "Cross Fox" mutation of the common red fox as an example.
I don't recall if this is a recessive or co-dominant trait.
You in the field?
View attachment 127079View attachment 127087View attachment 127097View attachment 127105View attachment 127112View attachment 127120View attachment 127125View attachment 127134View attachment 127145View attachment 127159View attachment 127165Don't normally post much of my hunting on here unless it's something unusual or one of the big bucks I've taken with air. Today is different because I shot a squirrel with a pattern I've never seen before. I live in central Kentucky and our squirrels are grey squirrels and red fox squirrels. I've seen all black squirrels in northern states but never one with this coloration. Everything I can find about it points to it being classified as a piebald. Lots of different animals including squirrels have been photographed with similar mutations. Going to get her mounted climbing across a limb so you can see the black underside. Might as well show the rest of the day also. Five were shot with my BSA sportsmen HV .22 using fx hybrids at 900ish fps. One taken with with my WAR valved marauder .25 also using fx hybrids around 930 fps. Loving the hybrids. Tiny entry hole and a big ole exit with superb accuracy in most rifles I've tried them in. And if you don't have a backpack that can carry a spare rifle I highly recommend one if you do any rough country hunting really far from the truck. I've had a few failures over the years ruin a day of hunting and now I always take a spare. Easier than hiking back and seeing a bunch of critters you can't shoot at.
I shot one many years ago in Southern Missouri close to the Arkansas line that was a fox squirrel with a black underside but was not nearly as distinct as the one you have. That was the first one that I have ever seen marked like that and thought "Wow, what the heck happened to that squirrel?" Over the years I have seen a few since but they are pretty rare around my part of the world. Very cool I believe I would have that one mounted too!
Could be one of those black squirrels from up Michigan way wound up down in the hills of ole Kentuck and found a girl friend.
We have seen a handful of black ones around here and I am only 70 miles or so from Ky.
Supposedly, the Kellogg family imported a boatload of black squirrels way back when and turned em loose around Battle Creek.
View attachment 127079View attachment 127087View attachment 127097View attachment 127105View attachment 127112View attachment 127120View attachment 127125View attachment 127134View attachment 127145View attachment 127159View attachment 127165Don't normally post much of my hunting on here unless it's something unusual or one of the big bucks I've taken with air. Today is different because I shot a squirrel with a pattern I've never seen before. I live in central Kentucky and our squirrels are grey squirrels and red fox squirrels. I've seen all black squirrels in northern states but never one with this coloration. Everything I can find about it points to it being classified as a piebald. Lots of different animals including squirrels have been photographed with similar mutations. Going to get her mounted climbing across a limb so you can see the black underside. Might as well show the rest of the day also. Five were shot with my BSA sportsmen HV .22 using fx hybrids at 900ish fps. One taken with with my WAR valved marauder .25 also using fx hybrids around 930 fps. Loving the hybrids. Tiny entry hole and a big ole exit with superb accuracy in most rifles I've tried them in. And if you don't have a backpack that can carry a spare rifle I highly recommend one if you do any rough country hunting really far from the truck. I've had a few failures over the years ruin a day of hunting and now I always take a spare. Easier than hiking back and seeing a bunch of critters you can't shoot at.