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Curious critter turning heads near Sauble Beach
The Record ^
| November 07, 2008
| Brent Davis
Posted on 11/08/2008 3:22:56 AM PST by Daffynition
SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA In the 21 years theyve lived on a rural property near Sauble Beach, Alice and Harry Hilliard have seen their share of curious critters.
There are lots of raccoons and skunks, for sure, and a black bear paid a visit one year. And there was Henrietta, the friendly wild turkey that once hung around.
But its a squirrel thats turning heads these days. A black and white squirrel that looks as though it tangled with a skunk. Or a Holstein. Or Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians.
It really threw us off when we saw him, said Alice. We tried to get a picture, but it ran up a tree.
He first turned up looking for spoils under their bird feeders on Thanksgiving Day, and hes been pretty punctual in making a daily appearance ever since.
Kitcheners Kevin Loader managed to snap some photos of the squirrel during a recent visit to the property with his wife, Hilary Kekanovich Alice and Harrys niece.
Markings like this are unusual, but not unheard of. This little guy is whats known as a piebald squirrel the term piebald applies to any animal displaying depigmented white fur.
The condition is genetically tied in to the development of the animals nervous system. According to some sources, its most common in horses but does affect other species.
TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: critters; piebald
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An unusual squirrel searches for food beneath a bird feeder at the home of Harry and Alice Hilliard near Sauble Beach. The photo was taken Monday, November 3, 2008. Photo by Kevin Loader
To: Daffynition
2
posted on
11/08/2008 3:27:25 AM PST
by
MissEdie
To: Daffynition
He’s cute. He looks like he’s part skunk.
3
posted on
11/08/2008 3:30:26 AM PST
by
Pinkbell
To: Daffynition
My cat kills three squirrels a week. We are overrun with them here.
Thanks for the story. That is unique. We had one around with a red tail. Cat probably had him for breakfast.
To: Daffynition
5
posted on
11/08/2008 3:35:20 AM PST
by
VaRepublican
(I would propagate taglines but I don't know how.)
To: MissEdie
Cute, but still vermin. I call 'em tree rats.....
6
posted on
11/08/2008 3:48:04 AM PST
by
Thermalseeker
(Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly. - B. Franklin)
To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
It showed up in honor of Obama’s election (just kidding.)
My Weim was standing at the back door yesterday, and when I went to let her in, she had a squirrel she had killed. It’s not unusual for her to chase or catch and kill squirrels, but she’s never tried to bring one in the house before. It would have been a mess because once our male Weim caught sight of it, they’d have been fighting over a dead squirrel in the house...yuck!
7
posted on
11/08/2008 4:04:52 AM PST
by
Dawn531
To: Daffynition
Very cool, i want one. I saw a show on The Learning Channel that featured 'Albino' squirrels.
Unfortunately, they are so rare because they aren't able to camouflage as well and other critters kill them easier.
Bless the furry creatures of the Wild Kingdom !
8
posted on
11/08/2008 4:05:52 AM PST
by
SouthDixie
(We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.)
To: Daffynition
To: Daffynition
Another illegal intruder related to 0bama?
10
posted on
11/08/2008 10:38:00 PM PST
by
papasmurf
(Impeach the illegal bastard!)
To: MissEdie; Pinkbell
Piebalds are an interesting phenom among critters ...
11
posted on
11/09/2008 5:07:42 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
Are your cats prone to eating squirrel tails too? Meet Stumpy. ;-D
12
posted on
11/09/2008 5:09:23 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: SouthDixie; VaRepublican
Albinos aren't quite the same mutation, but interesting too.
13
posted on
11/09/2008 5:13:15 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: Daffynition
That picture reminds me of the squirrel in my mother’s backyard.
My mother didn’t like squirrels and if they wandered into her yard they got shot. All except for one strange looking one with a very short, strange looking tail.
She let that one wander all over the back yard, I’m not sure why. I suspect she had had a bad day and didn’t quite kill the little guy. It probably bled all over the snow in the back yard. Who knows. There was a story but we never learned it.
14
posted on
11/09/2008 5:15:41 AM PST
by
ladyjane
To: martin_fierro
HAHAHAHA! Brill! HAHAHAHA!
15
posted on
11/09/2008 5:20:23 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: Daffynition
16
posted on
11/09/2008 5:25:57 AM PST
by
ExGeeEye
(I am Joe the Plumber, John Galt, and if need be, SPARTACUS!)
To: ExGeeEye
LOL ... as soon as I get back from church.
17
posted on
11/09/2008 6:17:32 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: Daffynition
18
posted on
11/09/2008 6:20:07 AM PST
by
TADSLOS
(McCain Courted Socialism and Brought Us Marxism Instead)
To: TADSLOS
19
posted on
11/09/2008 6:31:50 AM PST
by
Daffynition
("A gov't big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.)
To: Daffynition
haha!
A squirrel that has markings and coloring like a skunk.
But he’s STILL a rat-cousin !!! :^D
20
posted on
11/09/2008 7:08:13 AM PST
by
MeekOneGOP
(Obama, WHO is Bill Ayers and WHY are you still friends with him? Please RSVP asap!)
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