The local black squirrel population is now up to four distinct individuals that we counted in this one neighborhood in Clinton. The total number is likely higher.
Similar to deer and how piebald, albino or melanistic animals are produced gray squirrels have two genes of color, one from each parent.
A gray squirrel of normal color will have two genes of gray pigment.
Black squirrels have either one or two black pigment genes. If a black squirrel has two copies of the black gene
(one from each parent) it will be jet black. If it has one black gene and one gray gene it will be brown-black.