White Squirrel On A Statue

This just in from Don Weiser, the photographer of all things White Squirrel. He has the distinct advantage of having a pair in his yard that pose for him for... well... peanuts! I called the child welfare board and according to them, peanuts is considered good pay for a working white squirrel. Anyway, here's the photo and if you want to order Don's White Squirrel book, just click here.

As things get colder here in Brevard, NC the white squirrels have been out in force. Between the wife and I, we've seen a half dozen or so in just the past three or four days. I believe they are actively storing up nuts. Even more significant, a white squirrel has moved into our neighborhood up here in Pisgah Forest, (Knob Creek area just off Wilson) So their ranks are growing. We'll have to wait and see how Professor Bob Glesener's annual White Squirrel counts turns out, to see if there is any noticeable increase in population.

Announcing the 10th Annual White Squirrel Count!

Volunteers are needed to help conduct the 10th Annual Brevard Squirrel Count. Begun in 1997 by Brevard College students and faculty, the Squirrel Count, now under the supervision of the Heart of Brevard, is a community effort to monitor the abundance and distribution of our unique white variant of the Eastern Gray Squirrel.
Although white squirrels can be spotted from Cashiers to Hendersonville and from Enka/Candler to the South Carolina state line, the official study area consists of a three square mile site centered on the Transylvania County Courthouse (roughly following the original city limits). This study area has been sub-divided into 35 sectors, approximately 20 acres each. It is hoped that volunteers or organizations will adopt one of these sectors and complete three counts at their convenience between October and December. Each count takes about one hour and consists of walking at a leisurely pace along sidewalks and greenways through the assigned sector and recording all squirrels, white and gray, observed. Maps, datasheets, and detailed instructions will be provided.
If you are interested in participating in this year’s count, please contact Madrid Zimmerman of the Heart of Brevard at 884-3278. Results of previous counts and other information about Brevard’s white squirrel can be found at www.whitesquirrelinstitute.com. Last year’s count estimated that approximately 23.8% of Brevard’s squirrels were white, not far from the nine-year average of 24.4%.