Rare “albino” buck spotted in East Troy on Highway J
Kelly Daniels of East Troy spotted an all white buck off Highway J in East Troy, Wisconsin around 8 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Spotting an albino squirrel on UT’s campus may be a stroke of luck, but how about an albino raccoon?
In College Station, a rare, all-white dumpster diver was spotted living up to his nickname by—you guessed it—rummaging through trash near an unnamed car dealership.
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“The chances of being struck by lightning are greater…”
Photos of the albino raccoon, taken by Rodolfo Garza, were shared on X by KBTX-TV news anchor Rusty Surette.
“You have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than of encountering an albino raccoon,” Surette wrote.
According to wildlife experts, only one in 10,000 to 20,000 raccoons is born with the albino mutation. However, the probability of actually seeing a raccoon is only 1 in 750,000. For comparison: The probability of being struck by lightning during your lifetime is about 1 in 15,300.
What is albinism?
Animals, both humans and other animals, can have albinism. The recognizable pure white features are caused by a partial or complete loss of pigmentation, according to National Geographic:
Albinism in mammals “occurs when an individual inherits one or more mutated genes from both parents that affect the body’s production of melanin, the main pigment that determines the color of skin, fur, and eyes.” Non-mammals can still be albinos, but may not appear completely white.
More albino news: Rare white moose spotted crossing road in Alberta, Canada: Watch video
Why are albino animals rare?
Aside from the genetic predisposition to albinism, another reason the disease is so rare is that it often makes survival difficult. Animals with albinism are more likely to have poor eyesight, which affects their ability to find food and spot potential predators, National Geographic reports. It also makes the mating process more difficult.
Albinos are also more vulnerable to predators because they cannot camouflage themselves properly. Since most natural environments are dark in color, animals with albinism often stand out and are easy to recognize.
It’s not just natural predators that target animals with albinism. According to National Geographic, the rarity of albinos makes them more attractive to poachers and trophy hunters.
