Purple Squirrels

One purple squirrel is a strange curiosity, but now they seem to be popping up all over the place including British and American examples! No definitive explanation has been offered for this curious coloring, but some suggestions are summarized at the bottom of the hub.

This somewhat indistinct photograph (see right) shows a purple squirrel spotted by a resident of a town in Minnesota.

A purple squirrel turned up on the grounds of a school in Hampshire, United Kingdom. He was photographed several time and caused a great deal of speculation as to the cause.

There is also this picture with no place specified of a dark, purple-tinted squirrel.

This purple squirrel was trapped for a few days in Pennsylvania and the then released.

A taxidermy specimen of a purple-tinted squirrel was offered on Ebay. Its origin and the cause of the coloration are unknown.

Ryan Cheech Morrissey posted this more subtly colored squirrel on Facebook.

Explanations offered for purple squirrels include:

• Squirrels getting into ink or toner sand spreading it by grooming.
• Excess intake of bromide, such as from contaminated water.

• Apparently because purple squirrels are rare it is used by recruiters as a name for the perfect candidate for a job.
• It is also the name of a drink.