The Purple Squirrel isn’t just a drink at your favorite bar anymore.  An actual purple squirrel has been paying regular visits to Meoncross School in Stubbington, Hants, England, creating quite a sensation among students and staff.  The grape-colored visitor, nicknamed Pete, has become something of an unofficial school mascot.  I think they should make him an official school mascot, because he’s awesome.

Pete has any number of potential sources for his purpley goodness, so says wildlife expert Chris Packham, as quoted in the article linked above.

“Squirrels will chew anything even if it’s obviously inedible. It is possible he has been chewing on a purple ink cartridge and then groomed that colouring into his fur.

“Underneath there’s a normal grey squirrel who has just given himself an unusual hair colour – you would pay a fortune for that in some salons.”

Maybe it’s just me, but those seem like really weak explanations.  If he fell into a mystery purple-ink filled bucket, how did he get out?  How could he have gotten himself so purple and so evenly purple if he’d been grooming himself with a mouth full of purple ink.  Who even MAKES purple ink (and what would it taste like)?

No, I know the real answer.  Pete, the lovable friend to all children, is really The Squirrelminator.  He’s been sent back in time to do one thing:  hunt down John Connor, and stop the human resistance.

Tags: squirrel, purple squirrel, Chris Packham, Meoncross School, Stubbington, Hants, England, unusual animals, nature, odd animals, oddities

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