Curious critter turning heads near Sauble Beach

The Record ^ | November 07, 2008 | Brent Davis

[Daffynition]

SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA — In the 21 years they’ve 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 it’s a squirrel that’s 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 he’s been pretty punctual in making a daily appearance ever since.

Kitchener’s Kevin Loader managed to snap some photos of the squirrel during a recent visit to the property with his wife, Hilary Kekanovich — Alice and Harry’s niece.

Markings like this are unusual, but not unheard of. This little guy is what’s 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 animal’s nervous system. According to some sources, it’s most common in horses but does affect other species.

[Daffynition]

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

[MissEdie]

Cute, but still vermin.

[Pinkbell]

He’s cute. He looks like he’s part skunk.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

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.

[VaRepublican]

well thats different.

[Thermalseeker]

Cute, but still vermin.

I call 'em tree rats.....

[Dawn531]

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!

[SouthDixie]

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 !

[martin_fierro]

("Bummer of a birthmark, Hal" -- probably explains why this pic is from a taxidermist's shop)

[papasmurf]

Another illegal intruder related to 0bama?

[Daffynition]

Piebalds are an interesting phenom among critters ...

[Daffynition]

Are your cats prone to eating squirrel tails too? Meet Stumpy. ;-D

[Daffynition]

Albinos aren't quite the same mutation, but interesting too.

[ladyjane]

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.

[Daffynition]

HAHAHAHA! Brill! HAHAHAHA!

[ExGeeEye]

Squirrel Nutkin Lives!

Read the book...

[Daffynition]

LOL ... as soon as I get back from church.

[TADSLOS]

[Daffynition]

[MeekOneGOP]

haha!

A squirrel that has markings and coloring like a skunk.

But he’s STILL a rat-cousin !!! :^D