Black squirrel in France? I saw a nearly jet black squirrel in ardeche today, carolinensis have invaded the UK and Italy, however I didn't find news about their arrival in France. Was that black squirrel really a Canadian species?

Yes, _Sciurus carolinensis_ has been invasive in France, Italy and Switzerland for quite a few years already (Bertonlino and Genovesi, 2003).

Note that the "original" distribution of _S. carolinensis_ is over eatern Canada and USA. Not Canada only.