Black squirrels

Photograph courtesy of Sarah Patchett

There are two species of squirrel in Britain: the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Black and albino variants of red squirrels are found in mainland Europe but are rare in Britain, however black and albino variants of grey squirrels have been reported in Britain.

Black squirrels (S. carolinensis)

These are grey squirrels with high levels of the black pigment melanin in their hair (melanic). Although generally rare across Britain, black squirrels are found in at least three areas:

Black squirrel distibution map ^(978K)
Note this is a large file. Map is 1868px by 2112px.

Melanic grey squirrels were introduced to Woburn Park (Bedfordshire) from the U.S. at the end of the 19^th Century. Between 1876 and 1929, around 30 introductions of grey squirrels were made into England and Wales.

Albino squirrels  (S. carolinensis)

These have an absence of pigment in the hair (which is white) and are also rare in Britain, but have been reported in Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.           

If you see a black squirrel

We are collecting information about the distribution of black squirrels. If you see one in a location not indicated in the above list of areas or distribution map, then we would grateful if you would send the location and date of the sighting to mark.ferryman@forestry.gsi.gov.uk