Unusual squirrel

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I was driving home from work today and saw an unusual fox squirrel today. It's dorsal (back) fur was normally colored, but it's ventral side (belly fur) was jet black! When I got closer, I could see that its paws and muzzle were darker than normal as well....as a matter of fact, when I first saw it, I thought it was a small woodchuck in someones yard.
Does anyone know how often this occurs in nature? Has anyone ever seen a squirrel like this, or better yet, harvested one like this (it would make for a VERY interesting mount). I am wondering what genetic mutation would cause the bottom of the squirrel to turn black, as opposed to the whole squirrel?

[hypox]

Around here there are black squirrels and fox squirrels running around. I've seen several fox squirrels with black tails and vice versa. Then I've seen some with mixed colors on the body like you stated. Not sure what does it, but I see them all the time.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Black and fox squirels probably mated. In my dads woods while deer hunting, it is not unusual to see off color black or gray ones.
Some black with light spots and some gray with darker spots. I guess they are interacial too.

[Liv4Huntin']

I've seen many mixed-color squirrels over the years...... the most striking was a jet-black one with a beautiful bright silver, very bushy tail.

Apparently they do cross breed .......how else to explain the multi reds and blacks and silvers on so many of them?

~ m ~

[Moe]

Tell me if I'm wrong... but don't fox squirrels have a black phase? I thought that I read that somewhere but maybe not.

[Ladykiller]

Gray squirrels have a black phase, not the fox. As for me, most unusual would be a completely albino up by my cabin, and a few piebald black phase squirrels with the last two inches of their tail completely white. reminded me of matchsticks!