You giving me stick?

Out for a walk this afternoon, Andrew & I were surprised to see this black squirrel. Thinking they were quite rare I quickly took this picture. However, it turns out they are more common than we thought, particularly in Cambridgeshire;

Some of the first sightings of the black squirrels date back to the early 1900’s, but in recent years they have become more common in parts of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  It has been suggested that the black form has higher levels of the male hormone, testosterone, and is, therefore, more aggressive in seeking a mate and establishing territory. 

So these guys are as much of a threat to the rare red squirrels as the greys!