Black Squirrels Washington DC

Pride of DC

Lydia from Washington DC

"Washington DC's black squirrels are the pride of the locals--and excite tourists! About 25% of the city's population are 'so black, they appear shiny'..."

Not all the tourists peering through the iron fence surrounding the White House are ooohhing about the architecture or hoping to catch a glimpse of the First Lady. Some are enchanted by gorgeous specimens of DC’s unusual black squirrel population. Locals love these black squirrels, legally migrated here from Canada over a century ago, and one of the city’s finest examples of cultural diplomacy. After being in the area more than 20 years, I still get excited to see one of these sleek little guys.

The facts, as with all legends, are a little squirrel-y, but basically, the story goes like this: the National Zoo received eight Canadian black squirrels, desired by the Zoo’s superintendent for his inventory, just after the turn of the century. A Washington Post article describes them as “so black they appear shiny, with exceedingly thick and heavy fur.” But instead of living in cages, these squirrels were released onto Zoo property, perhaps to stabilize a waning population in Rock Creek Park. (Apparently, grey squirrels were requested from Virginia at about the same time to right a squirrel deficit on the National Mall as well.) But the Canadian migrants were not only copious breeders, but intrepid travelers – it’s estimated black squirrels account for 25% of squirrels in DC today.

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Washington DC Spotter Lydia

About me: The tale is in the telling. I am a storyteller, an excavator, a messenger, and for many years a journalist, with a portofolio that includes words crafted for magazines, books, online, television, newspapers, corporations and podcasts. I think everyone has a story, and everything. The person who made your coffee this morning (especially if that was you), and who picked the beans, the pedigree of the beans themselves, not to mention the arduous process of crop to cup. I do, however, prefer “inquisitive” to “nosy". An expat kid raised in the UK & Greece, I've also lived in Vie...

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Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest 1600

US$

free

Dec 5, 2025

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