The Black Squirrel of Pierce
By Brianna Rundell
Those pesky brown and grey squirrels are a common sight in Nebraska, but Pierce has one that's a little different than the rest. What makes it so unique? This squirrel's fur coat is completely black!
Black squirrels are often a rare sight, especially in Nebraska. No one is quite sure when the black squirrel first appeared or where it came from, but it has become quite a common sight.
For some Pierce residents, seeing the black squirrel is more or less just a quirky wildlife moment. “You wouldn't think to see a black squirrel, they aren’t usually black you know?” Pierce resident Zoey Ebmeier states. Ebmeier also mentioned that she sees it often wandering around her neighborhood, which is near Pierce Elementary.
But what makes its fur so unique? Could it be a different breed of squirrel compared to the common squirrels we see, or could it be a genetic mutation in their DNA?
Deb Koehlmoos, a Pierce High biology teacher, commented, “We talk about a lot of ways mutations can happen. Is it caused by a mistake when the DNA is replicated? Is it caused by environmental factors? So if they have the mutation then it just causes them to produce more melanin, the more melanin you have, the darker you are.”
Whatever the cause may be, it is a rare and amazing addition to Pierce.
More recently, these fluffy little creatures have taken on a role in some towns as an official unofficial mascot, take Marysville, Kansas, for example. The black squirrels that reside there have practically taken over by making up one-fifth of the squirrel population. They are so beloved that Marysvillie even has laws protecting them. While the black squirrel does not yet have much fame, it is slowly gaining a bit of a fan base.
Could Pierce be next with a black squirrel overload?
