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    Why Is This Squirrel Purple?

    Why Is This Squirrel Purple?

    A woman in Pennsylvania says no one believed that she saw a purple squirrel in her backyard, until her husband caught the little guy in a trap and turned him into an Internet celebrity. Percy and Connie Emert of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania (yes, that's a real place) say they keep live squirrel traps in their backyard to keep the animals away from their bird feeders, and last weekend they snagged this creature whose fur has turned a bright shade of purple. Though he (or she) is not the first squirrel to be spotted in the wild with this unusual condition, experts are stumped as to what could have caused the squirrel to change colors. There are several theories, however: A bucket of paint, printer ink, genetic defects, falling into a port-a-potty, pranksters, or (most sinister) too much bromide left over from natural gas fracking. The Emerts released the unnamed rodent back into the wild, so the mystery may never be solved, but he lives on via Facebook and (of course) a Twitter feed.

     

    87 comments

    • Largemouth  •  3 mths ago
      I had blue nuts once
    • The Guffaw Conspiracy  •  3 mths ago
      Behind every purple squirrel is a brown moose.
    • Dat Dude  •  Memphis, Tennessee  •  3 mths ago
      Yahoo finally posted a article with a picture!
      • JEZZLIN 3 mths ago
        HURRAY!! (Throws confetti..)
    • amusingtheamazing  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      I dub thee color "Squirrple"
    • WhatEver  •  3 mths ago
      "Why is the squirrel purple?" That is an easy question. He is ready for Mardi Gras!
    • r. catesbeiana  •  3 mths ago
      It's the Easter squirrel...comes around every year to bring half boiled pink eggs to all good little people.
    • KGil  •  3 mths ago
      "Beauty Squirrel Dropout"
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 mths ago
      Purple rain.
    • steelerman  •  Miami, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Fuggettaboudit, the squirrel ain't talkin cause he ain't no rat.
    • 1  •  3 mths ago
      Some kids....a bag of weed.....some spray paint .... and way too much time on their hands. lol Just kidding......neat.
    • RUNNER1200  •  3 mths ago
      Why doesn't a high school chemistry student do a chemical analysis of its fur. Seems like the logical thing to do.
      • Linda 3 mths ago
        somewhere i read that they did take fur samples......hope to hear the ending to this one !
    • sure hate dumb reporters  •  3 mths ago
      PURPLE PEOPLE EATER???
    • DW  •  3 mths ago
      We saw a small bunch (pack? squad?) of black squirrels in PA on the Main Line years ago. Blue (purple) is a dilute of black in genetics. So.... it's possible to have a "purple" or "lavender" creature who's just an oddity.
      • Linda 3 mths ago
        Wow, I was impressed with your answer. Can I ask what courses you have taken and what grade level you are at. I think you are probably right on.
    • Rich H  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      global warming.
    • Very  •  3 mths ago
      Purple Squirrel for PRESIDENT!

      PURPLE SQUIRREL 2012!
    • David  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      First a purple cow in Russia now a purple squirrel what next???
    • Rock  •  3 mths ago
      Today, Evolution scientists believe that the Purple Squirrel is a genetic throw back to the prehistoric* Flying Purple People Eater*, long believed to be extinct since the end of1950s. Scientists are not sure exactly when the* Flying Purple People Eater* went extinct, but there have been occasional reports of people Hearing its song, but, no actual sightings. The scientists are very excited that the genome has been carried on be the Purple Squirrel, and are hoping to capture one for study and dissection to prove their belief that the Color Purple was used to pacify Humans, who, on seeing one, would stop to observe the critter and then while stationary, the Human would be attacked and eaten. Updates will be posted as information ( or suppositions ) develop.
    • Adam  •  3 mths ago
      Shiny Pokemon. Thats all i got to say.
    • World Citizen  •  3 mths ago
      LOL you people are funny. I needed that today. I think he either fell into some purple liquid or ingested something that has purple ink. It looks like a dye job so he probably got curious and fell into a port o potty or maybe even a open barrel of wine. He is cute as a button.
    • Marty S  •  Lafayette, Louisiana  •  3 mths ago
      He was dressed up for Mardi Gras.
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