Chasing black squirrels

[vaneramos]

Today ranger1 and I visited University of Guelph campus and the MacDonald-Stewart Art Centre.

Comments

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I have this idea that jwg and I saw black squirrels in a park in Toronto when we were there last(?) year; or maybe I just think so because they were intersted in what we decided were black walnuts.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Grey squirrels and black squirrels are the same species, just a different gene which has different frequencies in various parts of the continent. ranger1 tells me you only have grey squirrels in New England. Some place have only black. Ontario has both.

What about Albino squirrels?

[djjo.livejournal.com]

I've seen a couple of those around Toronto. There used to be a family of them in the park around Queen Street Mental Hospital at Queen and Ossington. The oldest one died maybe 2 years ago, and I think the survivors have moved onto another park just down Queen Street.

But they were all white, or just a very pale grey. Very pretty actually.

Nice portrait shot of Chris. Is that a self portrait of you, or did Chris snap that as you woke up??? :)

Hugs there Van. Have a great weekend!

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

No fair making him catch his own supper.

Re: What about Albino squirrels?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, you could have albino grey squirrels. It's a genetic mutation, just like in people. I have heard of albinos of all kinds of mammals, birds and reptiles. Wild albinos are likely to get picked off by predators, because they lack camouflage. Apparentely the city park is a safe enough place for them to reproduce.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I did know (at least I think I did) that black squirrels and grey squirrels (and even gray squirrels, down here in the uncivilized world) were the same species. While this part of New England only has grey ones, I saw plenty of red squirrels in Maine over Labor Day weekend, for whatever that's worth.

I hope you're over your cold.

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

multi-cuteness!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

He had to catch mine, too, but I cooked.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is adorable.

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

What, and you're not?

*HUGS*

All these cuties in one place, and I'm at the other end of the continent…

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Geography is such a bitch.