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Bachman's Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger bachmani

Photo by suzmonk
Published on Project Noah
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31.7411, -89.1338

Field Notes

Description:

Very unusual squirrel for this area. One of a pair hanging out at the bird-feeder with the blue jays, cardinals, crows, etc. At least twice the size of the little gray squirrels also visiting the feeder. Muscular and fast ... ran like rip in the second photo when it "spotted" me!

Habitat:

A very large squirrel, Bachman's Fox Squirrel occurs in uplands throughout the eastern two-thirds of state of Mississippi. (In Florida, a squirrel with the same markings is called Sherman's Fox Squirrel.) Not an endangered squirrel, but it occurs in far fewer numbers than smaller squirrels and its population is declining through changes in land use and management, timber harvesting, etc.

Notes:

Bachman's Fox Squirrel is named for the Rev. John Bachman, 1790-1874, founder of Newberry College in South Carolina and a naturalist of note. Bachman was especially interested in small mammals, like rabbits, squirrels and birds. Several naturalists of the era, including John James Audubon, honored him by naming organisms for him ... a warbler, a sparrow, a shore bird, a brush rabbit and a butterfly.<br><br>

I wanted to include a link to a webiste that included more photos, but I couldn't find one that wasn't primarily devoted to hunting ... and that seemed odd for this context.

Reference Links:

MDWFP - Squirrel Program

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (18)
suzmonk
We don't see them often in my part of the state, papasix, but I agree they are bold. Tolerate humans in pretty close proximity. I have some better pics, taken later, here's a link ... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/263096024.
papasix
There a fair amount of Bachman squirrels that inhabit the Milbrook Golf and Country Club Golf Course... these critters are almost tamed. If you leave a sandwich or food on the cart while you walk over to hit your ball, they will get on the cart and take your food and up the tree they go. They are brazen and sometimes beggars.
suzmonk
Thanks. Since I posted this photo, I've talked two people out of hunting them ... people can almost always be understanding if you explain the situation. :-)
EmilyUmbarger
Love it! How beautiful! What a great spotting! :)
suzmonk
Many thanks to Jellis for identifying this big, beautiful fox squirrel ... Sciurus niger bachmani!
Jellis
http://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/squirrel-program.aspx
Jellis
I removed my suggestion because the Sherman's and Big Cypress is restricted to Florida. But the Bachman's Fox Squirrel are found in Mississippi.
suzmonk
Me, too ... I'm hoping someone who knows more about squirrels will have a look and see what they think!
alina
very interesting spotting -- i'd love to know what it is...
suzmonk
Hi all. I've removed the ID from this posting. Throwing it back out for thoughts from people who have more squirrel experience. Probably a kind of fox squirrel, but there may be more going on here ... see link to Alabama state website and discussion in comments.
HemaShah
Suzzanne,I would do that. I do not think that this squirrel has leucism or is melanistic.
suzmonk
Jemma ... do you think I should remove the ID on this spotting and throw it open for comments from "squirrel people" with more expertise?
suzmonk
Thanks, all. You know, Jemma, I looked at a lot of squirrel photos as I was posting. I knew we had never seen a squirrel like this in our area. And it didn't look like the Fox Squirrels on most websites. I thought it looked like Sherman's Fox Squirrel, a Florida squirrel of "special concern" because of shrinking habitat, but there was no indication among those websites that this squirrel lived anywhere but Florida. And I did see a couple of references to the color phase squirrels. Then I ran across the link I included in the posting, the one from the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources ... neighboring state, photo and description seemed to match my squirrel ... but there was no indication that it was rare. But I would be very, very happy for those who know more about squirrels to have a look and see what they think! Cool ...
HemaShah
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?p=6090619 Suzzanne ,scroll down the link and you will see a somewhat similar kind. These are rare.
HemaShah
I did find similar images on the internet.I think that these kind of squirrels are also known as " Color phase fox squirrels"
mauna Kunzah
What an unusual squirrel! It's leucistic and possibly melanistic too... great find!

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PublishedJuly 8, 2013

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