← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · neoclassical
Thread ID: 18305 | Posts: 3 | Started: 2005-05-20
2005-05-20 02:56 | User Profile
Black Squirrels Spread in Area ... Here's why some scientists believe the black squirrels were multiplying: In winter, their dark coats allowed them to retain heat from sunlight, leaving them less desperate for warmth than their lighter-colored cousins.
"If you can do it with solar heat, you don't need quite as much metabolic heat," and, therefore, need less food, Thorington said. ... Some residents have called to complain that the new squirrels are aggressive, driving out the friendly gray squirrels, said Bill Hamilton of the county Department of Park and Planning.
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051802251.html[/url]
2005-05-20 03:39 | User Profile
[QUOTE=neoclassical]Black Squirrels Spread in Area ... Here's why some scientists believe the black squirrels were multiplying: In winter, their dark coats allowed them to retain heat from sunlight, leaving them less desperate for warmth than their lighter-colored cousins.
"If you can do it with solar heat, you don't need quite as much metabolic heat," and, therefore, need less food, Thorington said. ... Some residents have called to complain that the new squirrels are aggressive, driving out the friendly gray squirrels, said Bill Hamilton of the county Department of Park and Planning.
[url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051802251.html"]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051802251.html[/url][/QUOTE] Hmm, perhaps in time squirrel farming for their silky black fur will become a profitable activity for some small businessman, which will induce PETA to attack him with Lawyers, Blood and Money for rodent husbandry.
Or do you see something more sinister at work here?
2005-05-20 06:55 | User Profile
Grey squirrels introduced from North America have been driving out the native red squirrel of Britain. Hopefully the red squirrels manage to hang on.