They are proud of their Comets in Marionville. But they are also proud of their white squirrels.
"They are a few people who are nuts over squirrels," says Jim Smart, a Marionville resident who's followed the saga of the rare rodents over the years.
Those kind of squirrels are not often found in North America, and no one can explain how Marionville ended up with them.
"There was a state biologist who did did research," Smart said. "And he said it was a rare phenomenon to find a colony of albino squirrels anywhere. He said they were albinos."
And they're so unusual that the town fiercely protects its guests.
"It's against the law (in Marionville) to kill one or trap or move them," Smart explained.
Maronville is one of only three towns in the entire United States to have a sizeable colony of white squirrels. The others are Olney, Illinois and Kenton, Tennessee. But Marionville claims to be number one because it has the oldest-known population.
"The town was organized in 1854," Smart said, "And they were here then."
Marionville has become so famous for its white squirrels that tour buses even come through and while two tornadoes have taken away part of their habitat, Smart says the squirrels survival rate in town is better than it is out in the woods.
"The predators can see 'em a lot quicker and they don't have the ability to get away because they show up so good," Smart said. "They're a lot better-off in town."
And as to the squirrels popularity in Marionville? Well, let's just say they could give the St. Louis rally squirrel a run for its money.
E-Mail
Print
