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If you walk on the sidewalk in Michigan, you might be taken aback to see some black squirrels that might even look like rats, according to USA Today.

But this squirrel isn't really another species, but a color variation of the common Eastern gray squirrel that you might know well if you are a U.S. citizen. Some even mistake them for black rats with fluffy tails---or even another animal totally.

These black squirrels are abundant in the northern states, such as Michigan, but they congregate only in some areas. The shift from familiar regions to other places, such as southern Michigan, creates problems.

"Black squirrels were not very common except in certain locations," said Tim Payne, wildlife supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources. "Now, as I travel about... I see them in scattered areas."

Animal experts explain that the black fur tends to make them retain the heat so that they can get through the harsh Michigan winters, according to patch.