Knowledgebase
What kind of squirrel is this. #777834
Asked November 15, 2021, 11:27 AM EST
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
This is an eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). This individual is expressing a genetic trait called piebaldism. It is similar to albinism and amelanism where an animal's fur lacks pigmentation. However, piebald animals typically only have patches of fur/skin that lack pigment, giving them a strange mottled appearance.
Here are a few articles I found that discuss this rare occurrence in fox squirrels and other animals.
https://dfwurbanwildlife.com/2015/03/17/chris-jacksons-dfw-urban-wildlife/fox-squirrel-oddities/
Thanks for sharing this cool observation and hope this information helps!