Why are there so many black squirrels in Bellingham? We asked the experts

Black squirrels were introduced to Whatcom County by our neighbors to the north, according to Greg Green, an ecologist, wildlife photographer and senior instructor in environmental science at Western Washington University.

Eastern gray squirrels and their darker-furred cousins were introduced into Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the early 20th century, although experts differ on exactly which year they arrived in the Canadian city.