Recently, Iowa residents have been noticing something unusual about a few of their local squirrels. The squirrels have fully white tails but normal-looking bodies, a striking color contrast that makes them stand out from other members of their species.
These white-tailed squirrels have intrigued and mystified the individuals who’ve come across them. People have been wondering what’s causing their peculiar coloring and whether the white tails affect the animals’ day-to-day lives.
According to Jim Coffey, a forest wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the answer comes down to genetics. The white-tailed rodents are not their own distinct species, but rather just “normal” squirrels who happen to be displaying a rare genetic trait.
“[F]or some reason, the breeding of one squirrel and another squirrel has allowed some recessive gene to express itself,” Coffey told The Dodo.
The white-tailed squirrels people have been observing have been concentrated in cities and towns rather than in unpopulated, natural areas. That’s most likely because the individuals with unusual coloring are more likely to survive in environments with fewer predators.
“A squirrel in the wild would be more inclined to survive if it blended in with the leaves or with the bark or with the understory to avoid predation,” Coffey said. “But in town, where they don’t have the same predator risks, those odd colors can express themselves and that squirrel can still survive.”
That being said, Coffey believes there’s also a chance that the squirrels with white tails may be at an advantage compared to other members of their species. If squirrels feel threatened, they will flick their tails at the animal hunting them — and the bright white fur may help by being distracting.
“The white tail is very visible itself, and if that squirrel is flicking it, it might give it a better chance of survival because the tail’s doing what it’s supposed to do,” Coffey said.
Because the squirrels’ white tails are caused by genetics, it makes sense that the trait would continue getting passed down within families and then spread to the local region. That’s probably why a lot of the white-tailed squirrels people have been observing seem to be concentrated in Iowa and the general Midwest region.
Coffey, who’s been working with the Department of Natural Resources for over 30 years, wasn’t necessarily shocked when he came across the video of the white-tailed squirrel. But he was excited to see that the eye-catching squirrels have renewed people’s interest in the adorable animals.
“There’s a lot going on in the squirrel world,” Coffey said. “You’ve got social dynamics and you’ve got genetics and you’ve got personalities.”
If you live in the Midwest, keep your eyes peeled for a fluffy white tail. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a special, rare kind of squirrel.
