Are white squirrels rare??
11-01-2007, 09:05 AM
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Are white squirrels rare??
I went outside this morning to find one of these sitting on my front porch (not actual picture) -
This is only the second time I have ever seen one, and was very shocked. Are they uncommon, or do they like to hide?
This is only the second time I have ever seen one, and was very shocked. Are they uncommon, or do they like to hide?
11-01-2007, 06:18 PM
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They are pretty rare, but if they are around, there are usually a large number of them. You won't find them in the wild much, it doesn't pay to be bright white in a brown/green world.
11-01-2007, 09:21 PM
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My daughter Sara and her husband Russell just moved from California to Olney, IL....home of the white squirrel.
Yours looks albino though due to the red eyes.
Check out this link... http://www.ci.olney.il.us/Visitors/WhiteSquirrel.htm
These two kids have yet to face their first winter. Pray for them! They have no idea what they have got themselves in for. My daughter was sitting outside talking with the neighbors (40 degrees out) and said that she was freezing. The neighbor lady looked at Sara and said, "Lady, you ain't seen nothing yet!"
I am going to be sending alot of Land'* End gift cards this winter...I can see it now!
Yours looks albino though due to the red eyes.
Check out this link... http://www.ci.olney.il.us/Visitors/WhiteSquirrel.htm
These two kids have yet to face their first winter. Pray for them! They have no idea what they have got themselves in for. My daughter was sitting outside talking with the neighbors (40 degrees out) and said that she was freezing. The neighbor lady looked at Sara and said, "Lady, you ain't seen nothing yet!"
I am going to be sending alot of Land'* End gift cards this winter...I can see it now!
11-02-2007, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by tripscarcare95
I think there everywhere, I saw one the other day in a heard of black squirrels, thats why that white one stood out. lol
Bandit, good video of the long island squeerils yearly migration to enfield
11-03-2007, 02:44 AM
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While the one in your pic is indeed an albino, the one you saw probably wasn't. There is a difference. Albino squirrels lack pigment, which makes their eyes pink. A true white squirrel simply has white fur, rather than lacking all skin pigment, and there eyes are normal.
As well, there are also two types of black squirrels, the normal black squirrel which is born from a family of black squirrels(in actuality they are Grey Squirrels with a hereditary gene that gives them black fur), and melanistic squirrels, which are abnormal, having been born of parents that don't have the gene. Rather, melanism is a defect.
Both true white squirrels and true black squirels form colonies just like any other Grey squirrel. So there should be a group of white squirrels nearby if you see one.
As well, there are also two types of black squirrels, the normal black squirrel which is born from a family of black squirrels(in actuality they are Grey Squirrels with a hereditary gene that gives them black fur), and melanistic squirrels, which are abnormal, having been born of parents that don't have the gene. Rather, melanism is a defect.
Both true white squirrels and true black squirels form colonies just like any other Grey squirrel. So there should be a group of white squirrels nearby if you see one.