So-called "gray squirrels" and "black squirrels" are two color morphs of the same species. Until 150 years ago, the black morph was much more abundant. Yet now the black morph is rare, except in cities. Why has the black morph declined? Why does it linger in cities? Will it return again to the countryside? The landscape is changing rapidly. Will the gray squirrel, and other mammals like it, be able to adapt quickly enough?

 

Squirrels that don't blend in well with their backgrounds don't survive as well. What kills squirrels? Predators...mainly hawks, foxes, and dogs. Humans also kill many squirrels: squirrel hunting is "big" in rural areas. But you can't hunt in cities, so maybe that's why black morphs more frequent in urban areas.

 

By mapping where black and gray morphs occur in our cities, towns, farms and forests you can contribute to an important scientific discovery about evolution in action in our own backyards.

 

Classify the coat color of squirrels as gray or black on Zooniverse. The coat color of each squirrel is confirmed through classifications by many Zooinverse volunteers like you. Once you classify it, we map it, identify its habitat, and determine which morph occurs more often where. This lets us understand how quickly squirrels, and mammals like them, can adapt to changes in their habitats.