It turns out that black is not the only unique color you’ll find on Michigan squirrels. We talked to John and Teri Flory about the furry neighbor they called “White Squirrel.” Plus, listener Carolyn Shalhoub tells us about a mischievous squirrel who tried to steal Christmas.  

You can find some REALLY cute pictures of White Squirrel here.

GUESTS: 
John and Teri Flory, Wyoming residents
Carolyn Shalhoub, Royal Oak resident 

Want to submit a question or story to On Hand? Do it here:

Online Submission Form

Call us: 734-764-7840

Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

It turns out that black is not the only unique color you&rsquo;ll find on Michigan squirrels. We talked to John and Teri Flory about the furry neighbor they called &ldquo;White Squirrel.&rdquo; Plus, listener Carolyn Shalhoub tells us about a mischievous squirrel who tried to steal Christmas.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find some REALLY cute pictures of White Squirrel&nbsp;<a href="michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-12-05/your-stories-the-white-squirrel-of-wyoming">here.</a>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>John and Teri Flory, Wyoming residents</li>
<li>Carolyn Shalhoub, Royal Oak resident&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Want to submit a question or story to On Hand? Do it here:
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a> Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Ever wondered why we call ourselves “Michiganders”? Or why we say “pop” instead of “soda”? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That’s why we’re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special.

To share a story or submit your questions, head to michiganpublic.org/onhand

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

Ever wondered why we call ourselves &ldquo;Michiganders&rdquo;? Or why we say &ldquo;pop&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;soda&rdquo;? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special.
To share a story or submit your questions, head to <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand">michiganpublic.org/onhand</a>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="https://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work</a>: michiganpublic.org/podfund

On Hand

Your Stories: The White Squirrel of Wyoming

Squirrels aren’t a particularly exotic animal. The fluffy rodents are native to 49 out of 50 states. But there’s something that makes Michigan’s squirrels a little different–and it’s their color. Research suggests the state is part of a kind of Great Lakes “black squirrel belt.” On this episode of On Hand, we go looking for black squirrels–and talk to an evolutionary biologist about why Michigan has so many. 

(Tile photo by Corey Seeman. Check out more of Corey's black squirrel photos here.) 

GUESTS: 
Brad Cosentino, Professor of Biology Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Corey Seeman, University of Michigan librarian and squirrel photographer
Jerry Wade, Detroit resident
Gabrielle Riley, Detroit resident
Kenny Stebner, Traverse City resident 

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

Online Submission Form

Call us: 734-764-7840

Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

Squirrels aren&rsquo;t a particularly exotic animal. The fluffy rodents are native to 49 out of 50 states. But there&rsquo;s something that makes Michigan&rsquo;s squirrels a little different&ndash;and it&rsquo;s their color. Research suggests the state is part of a kind of Great Lakes &ldquo;black squirrel belt.&rdquo; On this episode of&nbsp;On Hand, we go looking for black squirrels&ndash;and talk to an evolutionary biologist about why Michigan has so many.&nbsp;
(Tile photo by Corey Seeman. Check out more of Corey's black squirrel photos <a href="michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-12-04/black-squirrels">here</a>.)&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Brad Cosentino, Professor of Biology Hobart and William Smith Colleges</li>
<li>Corey Seeman, University of Michigan librarian and squirrel photographer</li>
<li>Jerry Wade, Detroit resident</li>
<li>Gabrielle Riley, Detroit resident</li>
<li>Kenny Stebner, Traverse City resident&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Why is Michigan a black squirrel hotspot?

One of the reasons the word "Kalamazoo" shows up in so many lyrics is because it's just a fun word to say. Rapper Jamall Bufford writes a freestyle around "Kalamazoo" and talks about creative writing in music.
More music from Jamall Bufford, a.k.a. Buff1

GUEST: Jamall Bufford, rapper and lyricist

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:


Online Submission Form


Call us: 734-764-7840


Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

One of the reasons the word "Kalamazoo" shows up in so many lyrics is because it's just a fun word to say. Rapper Jamall Bufford writes a freestyle around "Kalamazoo" and talks about creative writing in music.
<ul>
<li>More music from <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1NvpVQtJUEiiftzX1bMA49?si=ncRGlGfrRSOf8W2se5uzEg">Jamall Bufford</a>, a.k.a. <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bBEAb0OfNmdXbinRi8WXk?si=-xEIjvthRgm4H0blVAluow">Buff1</a></li>
</ul>
GUEST: Jamall Bufford, rapper and lyricist
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
</li>
<li>
Call us: 734-764-7840
</li>
<li>
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
</li>
</ul>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work:&nbsp;<a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Your Stories: What rhymes with "Kalamazoo"?

There are dozens of songs that are titled "Kalamazoo" and more still that mention the southwest Michigan city. It's been that way since the early days of music recording, and "Kalamazoo" continues to find its way into songs. Why, though? We dig into this question, with a multipronged answer that takes us through an American musical legacy.
Here's a brief playlist of songs that mention "Kalamazoo"
Here's a brief playlist of famous uses of Gibson guitars

GUEST: Paul Russell, musician (who wrote a song called "Kalamazoo")

GUEST: John Thomas, law professor, historian, and author of Kalamazoo Gals

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Have a story about Kalamazoo's musical legacy? Do it here:


Online Submission Form


Call us: 734-764-7840


Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

There are dozens of songs that are titled "Kalamazoo" and more still that mention the southwest Michigan city. It's been that way since the early days of music recording, and "Kalamazoo" continues to find its way into songs. Why, though? We dig into this question, with a multipronged answer that takes us through an American musical legacy.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ewEhp9zqBY8YYcwhk4gEH?si=1d05e403b9754227">Here's a brief playlist of songs that mention "Kalamazoo"</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4yMVbhSiWD2sXXQblyfdW7?si=bba8c5c59287469c">Here's a brief playlist of famous uses of Gibson guitars</a></li>
</ul>
GUEST: Paul Russell, musician (who wrote a song called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4mqc-oAims">Kalamazoo</a>")
GUEST: John Thomas, law professor, historian, and author of <a href="https://kalamazoogals.com/">Kalamazoo Gals</a>
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Have a story about Kalamazoo's musical legacy? Do it here:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
</li>
<li>
Call us: 734-764-7840
</li>
<li>
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
</li>
</ul>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work:&nbsp;<a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Your Stories: The White Squirrel of Wyoming

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