Colchester photographer spots mutated black squirrel

Christine Stubbings, an amateur photographer, managed to take a picture of the unusual sight just across the border in Suffolk. 

The genetically mutated squirrels sport black fur, unlike the usual grey or native red, in the city's green areas.

Miss Stubbings has been photographing wildlife for years and her photo of swans dancing - with entwined necks went viral. 

Unique - one of the pictures taken by Christine (Image: Christine Stubbings)

Miss Stubbings, who saw the animal in Groton Woods, was gobsmacked when she came across it. 

She said: "I have never seen anything like it before and I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw the black squirrel - I never knew they existed.

"Nobody has seen them I've asked a few people but they haven't seen them either. 

"Seeing a black squirrel - wow - it was amazing."

Wow - the viral swan picture Christine took (Image: Christine Stubbings) These unique squirrels are usually thought to be a different species to the Eastern grey squirrel which is seen the most around the city - but that is not the case.

In fact, the black squirrel is of the same species as the grey bushy-tailed creatures familiar from park and woodland walks.

Its unique and beautiful dark coat is the result of a naturally occurring mutation of the gene that governs fur pigmentation.

Research published in a paper by BMC Evolutionary Biology found that the characterisation of the black fur emerged from a faulty pigment gene.

The study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge says the difference between black and grey squirrels is simply the colour of their fur.

(Image: Christine Stubbings)

Other than colour, black squirrels have the same size, behaviour and habitat as greys.

There are thought to be around 25,000 black squirrels in the UK, compared to the 2.7million grey squirrel estimated to be living in the country's parks and cities.

The first wild black squirrel was recorded in Woburn in 1912, and was believed to have escaped from a private zoo having been imported from the United States.

Beautiful - the rare squirrel 

But today they can be found across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

For more nature photography and great finds in Colchester and its surrounding areas join the Gazette Camera Club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/1824108087912756.

Have you photographed an unusual or rare animal in north Essex? Let us know at grace.capel@newsquest.co.uk. 

(Image: Christine Stubbings) (Image: Christine Stubbings)