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The black squirrel is a melanistic subgroup of the eastern grey squirrel. They are common in Midwestern North America and, in some places, outnumber the grey squirrels by a ratio of about ten to one.^{[ citation needed]}

As a melanistic variety of the Grey Squirrel, individual black squirrels can exist wherever Grey Squirrels live. The black subgroup seems to have been dominant throughout North America prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, after which time increased hunting and deforestation led to biological advantages for gray colored individuals. ^[1] Today, the black subgroup is particularly abundant in the northern part of the Eastern Grey Squirrel's range. ^{[2] [3]} This is likely due to the significantly increased cold tolerance of black individuals. ^[4] Large natural populations of black squirrels can be found throughout Ontario, and in several parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. ^[5] Populations of grey squirrels in which the black subgroup is dominant can be found in these four areas as well as in smaller enclaves in New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut. ^[6] Outside areas of North America where black squirrels occur naturally in abundance, there are several notable introduced populations of Black Squirrels:

In the United States, the city of Kent, Ohio has a significant black squirrel population, after 10 were legally imported from Canada in February of 1961. They have driven out native squirrels in many areas, though they peacefully coexist with most other rodent wildlife. ^[7]

Black squirrels are well established on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. They are mostly found in the city of Rock Island. According to one story, recounted in the book "The Palmers," they were first introduced on the Rock Island Arsenal Island. Some of them then escaped by jumping across ice floes on the Mississippi River when it was frozen and populated other areas in Rock Island. ^[8]

Black squirrels are abundant in Battle Creek, Michigan and according to legend were first introduced there by Will Keith Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg Company in an effort to destroy the local population of red squirrels. The story continues that this same population of squirrels was further introduced to the campus of Michigan State University by John Harvey Kellogg for the same purpose ^[9]

Fort Mitchell, Kentucky maintains a significant population of black squirrels after several were introduced from Detroit prior to 1977 ^[10]

Black squirrels were introduced to Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts in 1948, having been brought from Michigan as a gift to a local business man. The squirrels thrive in the park to the present. ^[11]

Marysville, Kansas has a notable population of black squirrels which legend claims arrived there by escaping from a traveling circus. ^{[12] [13]} The city of Hobbs, New Mexico attempted to introduce black squirrels from Marysville in 1973. However, the new population of black squirrels did not survive, likely having been killed by local fox squirrels shortly after their introduction. ^[14]

Vancouver, British Columbia has a growing population of black squirrels after they were introduced to the Stanley Park Penninsula before 1914. The squirrels have thrived and spread throughout the Vancouver area. ^[15]

Black squirrels can also be found in Great Britain, where grey squirrels were first introduced from North America at the end of the 19th century and melanistic forms have since arisen. ^[16] Around the towns of Letchworth and Hitchin in England black squirrels are now as abundant as gray individuals. ^[17]

Though black squirrels are common or dominant in many areas of North America, their overall rarity (perhaps as few as 1 in 10,000) ^[18] has caused many towns, cities, colleges, and universities to take special pride in their populations of black squirrels. Several cities and towns in the United States, and one in Canada make efforts to publicly promote their local populations of black squirrels.

• London, Ontario ^[19]
• Marysville, Kansas ^[20]
• Westfield, Massachusetts ^[21]
• Council Bluffs, Iowa ^[22]
• Kent, Ohio ^{[23] [24]}

Several colleges and universities in the United States promote the black squirrel as an official or unofficial mascot:

• Haverford College where the black squirrel is the official mascot of varsity athletics ^[25]
• Kent State University ^[26] which each year holds a Black Squirrel Festival (located in the Risman Plaza during the second week of September) to honor the university's growing black squirrel population. ^[27] It features live music, vendors and an overall tribute to the black squirrels seen throughout the campus. Beyond the festival, other businesses and organizations, in Kent are named for the black squirrel, including Black Squirrel Music ^[28], and Black Squirrel Books, an imprint of the Kent State University Press ^[29].
• Albion College where the black squirrel has become a significant symbol on campus ^[30]
• Sarah Lawrence College where the campus coffee shop is named for the black squirrel ^[31]

• Black Squirrel Books link to series page on publisher website
• Washington DC Black Squirrels
• A brief history of the black squirrel at Kent State University
• Marysville Kansas Chamber of Commerce
• Stevenage, UK Squirrel - BBC News
• Dailymail article about black squirrels in UK
• Attack by black squirrels in Russian town