The Odds of Seeing an Albino Deer
BuckManager.com | October 1 | Deer Coloration
Albino white-tailed deer may be neat to see, but did you know that a true albino occurs in only one of out of 100,000 births and very few fawns survive beyond the first year of life? It’s true. For an albino deer to live over seven years is extremely unusual — almost unheard of. And if you think about it, this makes sense for a lot of reasons. First, most of the whitetail’s range consist of habitat that is dominated by the colors green and brown–not white.
Within various wildlife species, animal coloration is based on the process of natural selection. In short, color mutations occur infrequently overall, but if the color variations were well-suited for the environment where they are found, then those “oddly” colored animals would survive to breed and pass on their genes. If the genes cause an animal to stick out, such as a white deer in a primarily green or brown environment, then the animal will be more noticable to predators, including humans. This results in the animal being depredated or harvested. In either case, the color abnormality does not benefit the white animal.
The albino whitetail buck seen above is a true albino. In cases of true albinism, albino deer lack pigmentation in the hair, skin, and, in the case of deer, the iris of the eyes. However, eyes can be pink or blue and the hoofs a pale gray. In some areas, albino deer are even protected by law. However, most states do not protect deer with color abnormalities.
To sum up, albinos are interesting animals, and albino white-tailed deer are no different. They are genetic phenonmenons that physically don not make sense in most cases, but could under certain environmental conditions (for example, if it snowed throughout the year). So although most of us will never see a wild albino deer, if you do, just consider the odds!
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We saw one this last week in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, in the clearing behind Chick-fil-a, just off of 55/401.
Christie | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
Oct 14 2009, a true albino 6 point buck was harvested in Zuni, Virginia, by crossbow.
Peter Homan | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
I saw and took a picture of an albino buck in my backyard in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a digital picture and didn’t come out very clear, but I saw it on October 31, 2009
Carol Schulte | Nov 28, 2009 | Reply
When I was a child my father, brother, and I saw a massive white buck that crossed the road in front of us, stopped when we stopped and looked at us for about 30 seconds before bounding away in the woods. That was in Grapeview, Washington, about 1990. My younger brother, who still lives in Grapeview saw a large 6 point white buck last night. Could this be the same deer we saw 20 years ago?
Alysha Santos | Jan 10, 2010 | Reply
Alysha, although it appears the area you refer to has genes for albinism, the buck that your brother recently saw is not the same deer. The longest living, wild white-tailed deer I have heard about lived just over 15 years. Most bucks are very lucky to live to be 6+ years of age.
Buck Manager | Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
I have great photos of an albino deer. He or she is surrounded by 3 other very healthly looking normal pigmentation deer. Would anyone like to see the photos? They are amazing. I live in New Jersey.
JAYNE BEECH | Jan 23, 2010 | Reply
There are at least four albino deer living in Father Hennepin State Park, on the south shore of Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota. They are beautiful. The white buck comes into the park during deer hunting season. Smart deer!
Roy | Feb 2, 2010 | Reply
We have an albino and two piebalds that pass through our backyard in the Canton, Ohio, area.
Mike | Apr 21, 2010 | Reply
I live in Alton, Virginia. We, my wife and son and I, have been seeing a normal color doe with two fawns. One of the fawns is an albino. We see them everyday late in the evening and have seen them as close as 200 feet away. No one hunts in the nearby woods and we are surounded by hay fields. After reading about albinos surrival chances, I only hope we get to continue to enjoy the view. I’m 52 years old and have hunted in many states. This is my very first sighting of an albino deer.
Patrick Blackwell | Jul 11, 2010 | Reply
I saw a doe with an albino fawn near Pecan Plantation in Hood County, Texas, last Sunday morning. This was the first albino deer I have ever seen in the wild. I’ve seen color variations in whitetails before this, but never an albino.
Acy McGehee | Aug 13, 2010 | Reply
Some say that the white stag is the protector of the forest, some sort of guardian that kept the forces of nature in balance. To see the elusive creature was rare, but to kill it was simply sacrilege and the act would stain one’s very soul. I think Hercules was tasked with taking down a similar animal. Interesting.
Raven | Sep 17, 2010 | Reply
We have had the pleasure of regular visits from “our” albino whitetail deer since we moved here to Virginia over 8 years ago.
PTatum | Oct 7, 2010 | Reply
I came to this sight to research albino deer because I have had one roaming in my yard for 2 years now. I wanted to know just how rare they really are. I can’t believe the odds… guess I’m just lucky.
Justin | Oct 13, 2010 | Reply
On October 16, 2010, my buddy and I saw an albino buck enter our cut-over we were hunting at 7 o’clock in the morning. It was a once in a lifetime hunt. Not only did we see this oddity, we got the chance to harvest him as well. What a hunt!
Richard | Oct 18, 2010 | Reply
We have a family group living in the forest beside our house and have seen a young albino 3 or 4 times now. I just saw them cruise through in broad daylight with the albino young one. Located in the western suburbs of Pennsylvania.
Kathy | Nov 29, 2010 | Reply
My wife and I recently saw a herd of white deer and a buck grazing in the front yard of a home near Bastrop, Texas. There were about 6 or 7 does and a buck. The buck was about an 8 point or more. They appeared to have longer tails than the normal whitetail deer. We did get several photos before they spooked and ran off.
It was amazing and exciting to see them. We are going to go back to the location and see if we can find them again. Is there any agency that would be interested in our find?
Ken Webb | Dec 6, 2010 | Reply
Saw one tonight in the tree line along Route 476 in Pennsylvania. Always see a lot there, but NEVER in my life had I ever seen an albino. Just may stake it out to get some pics!
Dave DeStefano | Aug 17, 2011 | Reply
Just saw 2 fawns. One was normal and the other a solid white one. Gainesville, Georgia, Hall County, Lake Lanier area. Wow!
Carley | Oct 11, 2011 | Reply
Albino deer spotted in North Raleigh off Durant Road on Oct. 28, 2011. Gorgeous!
Claudia | Oct 29, 2011 | Reply
I saw a white buck grazing in my backyard in North Raleigh on Oct. 30, 2011! Must be the same guy that Claudia saw on the 28th! He was beautiful!
Donna | Nov 2, 2011 | Reply
Tonight we a saw an albino buck behind our new apartment in the Pantops area in Charlottesville, Virginia. We were less that 20 feet away.Very neat.
janice' esposito | Nov 5, 2011 | Reply
Yes, I would love to see the photos. I also live in New Jersey and have white deer on my property.
John | Nov 24, 2011 | Reply