Why are the squirrels orange?

[Renew Deal]

I was in Ohio this weekend. For some reason, the squirrels had an orange tint. Can someone please explain this?

[onehandle]

1. Where is your home?

I'm in Georgia and ours are grey. Whenever I'm up north (Chicago, NYC etc...) I notice the squirrels are brownish-redish-orangish. Maybe it's a location thing.

On edit: The squirrels in DC and NYC are as big as cats.

[pscot]

2. When the squirrels turn orange

that means it's going to be a tough winter. Their winter coats come in orange. The bushier they get, the colder the winter.

[Renew Deal]

4. hmmmm

That doesn't happen here (on LI). I've never seen it before. Then again, I saw squirrels in AZ that would play with people. I guess it's regional.

[pscot]

6. Nevertheless

That is my story and I'm stickin' to it. Besides, I got it straight from Mark Trail. Or was it Mr. Natural?

[NV Whino]

3. There are grey, red and black squirrels

You probably saw red squirrels. In Colorado they have all three varieties in aabout equal numbers. In California, mostly grey with a few red. Never seen a black one here.

[Shoeempress]

5. I'm in NH, and we have Grey squirrels and reddish squirrels. Think

it's a genetic mutation. Used to Live in Mass and we never had anything but Grey squirrels

[Lefty48197]

7. also known as fox squirrels

.

[Kolesar]

8. Fox squirrels are the big squirrels

Black squirrels are a variety of grey squirrels, I recall. I am not 100% sure of that, though.