Black Squirrel Squabbles
Council Bluffs, Iowa; Marysville, Kansas; Hobbs, New Mexico; Kent, Ohio; London, Ontario
The interaction between black squirrel towns is civil and downright cooperative, compared to the heated fracas between White Squirrel Towns. Black squirrels can be found in many areas mixed with other squirrels, but only a few towns practice Black Squirrel boosterism. Three municipalities at one time aggressively boasted pure black squirrel populations, but the number has shrunk to two (other areas have black squirrels, they're just not actively promoted by the towns, universities, etc. they inhabit).
Council Bluffs, IA, has had black squirrels since at least the 1840s. It also has other things to brag about besides squirrels. It lacks the fanatical eugenics policies of the white squirrel towns; we were concerned its black squirrel population was slowly disappearing through miscegenation. Citizens tell us otherwise, claiming the black squirrel population is exploding, and, in an unholy alliance with red squirrels, are spreading from their old downtown scampering grounds to all parts of the city.
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Marysville, KS, bills itself as Home of the Black Squirrels and it deserves to. The town has named the black squirrel its official mascot, and holds an annual Black Squirrel Celebration. In 1987, the "Black Squirrel Song" became Marysville's official anthem:
"Lives in the city park,
runs all over town
The coal black squirrel will be our pride and joy
Many more years to come!"
The black squirrels have been here since the late 1920s, when local historians say they escaped from a travelling circus -- or was it a Gypsy caravan?
It's no mystery how the black squirrels arrived in Hobbs, NM. Several were "borrowed" from Marysville in 1973, in the hopes they would establish a breeding population in Hobbs' public parks. They were turned loose amid much fanfare -- and were promptly killed by red fox squirrels that Hobbs had imported earlier from Sadler, TX. Now all of Hobbs' black squirrels are gone, and Marysville isn't about to lend any more.
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Black squirrels thriving in Kent State University, Ohio for the last 40 years are the basis for the annual Black Squirrel festival and Black Squirrel run on campus . But they were first imported -- "seeded" from London, Ontario's native black squirrel population in the early 1960s.
London hopes to push the absurdity envelope these days with its own celebratory zeal of the ebony creatures that congregate around Victoria Park. No festival yet; they do promote a web site, screensaver, and an amazing downloadable song (MP3).
It's a "NUTTY" music video from London, Ontario!
Address: Graham Ave, Council Bluffs, IA [Show Map]
Directions: City of Council Bluff -- look in places like Fairmont Park.
Address: Center St., Marysville, KS [Show Map]
Directions: Town of Marysville, south of Nebraska border, US Hwy 36 and US Hwy 77.
Address: Marland Blvd, Hobbs, NM [Show Map]
Directions: Town of Hobbs, just west over the Texas border on US 180/62 at Hwy 18.
Address: Wellington Street, London, ON, Canada [Show Map]
Directions: Tonw of London is north of Hwy 401, between Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Squirrels seen in Victoria Park.
Note: We are primarily interested in towns that promote their squirrel populations as symbols of civic pride. If your town has an annual squirrel festival, or you were Miss White Squirrel 2000, by all means let us know.
On the other hand, we receive email from hundreds of people who have sighted white, black, reddish-gray or whatever flavor squirrels in their own towns and yards. We are very excited for you, however we don't profess to be experts on squirrel behavior, diet, taming or extermination techniques. Good luck in your search for that information!
Sorry we can't invest all our free time in reporting the latest black squirrel sightings!
