White Squirrels
Role in Ecosystem
Everyone already knows squirrels as scavengers that scurry around finding and burying nuts and seeds. Well there is a purpose to this seemingly neurotic behavior. Not only does burying their food ensure a supply for the cold winter months, but it also fertilizes the soil. Many times squirrels forget where they stashed their nuts and luckily they do not go to waste! Oftentimes, a new tree is the result of a forgotten nut by a squirrel.
Disadvantages & Advantages
There is one very big disadvantage to a squirrel’s fur being white. It makes it much more difficult for them to camouflage, therefore exposing them to predators. On the contrary, sometimes it can be beneficial for a squirrel to be white depending on their surrounding environment. If the area they inhabit is made up of a lot of white buildings or trees, they stand a better chance at blending in and surviving with white fur. However, in some areas it is simply unknown why white squirrels have chosen to reside there and the locals usually refer to myths for explanation.