Piebald Deer
A piebald is an animal, usually a mammal such as a white-tailed deer or horse, that has a spotting pattern of large white and black patches. In fact, piebald deer are deer that look a lot like an American Paint Horse. The color of a piebald’s skin underneath its coat may vary between black under the black patches of hair and pink under the white patches.
The coloring is generally asymmetrical, resulting in piebald deer with abnormally wild brown and white coloration. In addition, many piebald-colored animals exhibit coloration of the irises of the eye that match the surrounding skin. This condition also occurs in white-tailed piebald deer and makes for a very unusual animal.
Piebald whitetail are often striking animals because of their unique beauty. Observers are often shocked to see such a remarkably colored deer. Let’s face it, most whitetail are very similar to one another when it comes to hair coat coloration. Not piebald deer; they are all different!
Genetics on Display
A genetic variation (defect) produces the piebald condition in white-tailed deer, not parasites or diseases. Piebald deer are colored white and brown similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white. Regardless of the pattern, piebald animals always cool to see.
In addition to this coloration, many piebald deer have some of the following observable conditions: bowing of the nose (Roman nose), short legs, arching spine (scoliosis), and short lower jaws. This genetic piebald condition is rare. Typically, less than one percent of white-tailed deer are affected.
Read article: Residents Fawning Over Rare Deer
Video: A Herd of Piebald Deer
More Piebald Photos
Viewing Piebald Deer
In closing, piebald deer are oddly colored and beautiful deer. They are different looking, but they are still white-tailed deer. Piebald are generally not protected any differently than other deer. All states have deer hunting regulations that protect deer for most of the year, but piebald can be hunted and harvested during open hunting seasons like “regular” deer.
Piebald deer behave much like other whitetail. Stay calm and quite when viewing piebald, as deer do not like loud noise or sudden movement. In addition, make sure to abide by all laws when trying to get that “once in a lifetime” piebald deer photo. Do not trespass on private property!
If you have seen a piebald recently, please comment to let us know if you observed any of the following, and where:
- Shorter than normal legs
- Bowed (Roman) nose
- Sort lower jaws
- Arching spine
- Colored irises of the eyes
We saw a Piebald yesterday on an island in Puget Sound, Washington state. Beautiful!
I saw a solid grey deer the other day in Alabama. This deer had a little white on its tail, but the rest of the deer was grey. She stood there and watched us for several mins before walking away.
Spotted a Piebald fawn in the woods along a country road outside of Shelton in Washington State. Stopped to take a picture but wasn’t fast enough. Cool!!
Sister-in law’s friend sent a video of a black and white 6 point piebald in her backyard in Carrboro, NC. Great conversation starter!
Just observed a piebald fawn in my yard early this AM. This deer as wth 3 does and 3 other whietail deer. This is the first time we have ever seen one in the 37 years we have lived in Maine. WOW!
Matha, thanks for reporting in from the far NE! Very cool!
Just saw my first piebald deer in neighbor’s backyard in Easton, Md. Derr was with a herd of white tail deer of normal color.
Hi, my wife and I just had three deer cross the road in front of us and two of them had the markings of the Piebald deer. Until now, we had no idea that deer with this colour pattern existed. We love deer and always feel as though we are gifted when we see them and the sighting tonight was even more special than usual. Tres cool!!
Gulf Shore, Nova Scotia, Canada
Bruce, sounds like a memorable moment! Thanks for letting everyone know.
Hello! I saw a Piebald Deer this morning in our woods behind our house outside of Charlotte, NC. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at at first! I never heard of them before but was so excited that I got to see one. A smaller whitetail deer was following her. So awesome!
Sadly, I haven’t seen a piebald, but I have a doe that is beautiful. She is caramel colored, a yellowish brown, black face and has no black on her tail but the tail is rimmed with white. I’ve seen her twice now and always alone crossing below the ridge of our property.
I’m fairly familiar with the normal for our area. We have a trail cam on the ridge and have several photos with 8 does traveling the game trail. They all appear to have normal coloring on their faces and bodies and dark or black at least halfway up their tails, and most, the dark coloring all the way up their tails.
Linda, it sounds like the white-tailed deer you described is a good looking deer. Although deer generally look the same, each and everyone has it’s own unique color variation. I’m sure most humans look the same to deer, too!
We are seeing several piebald deer on Edisto Island Beach this afternoon. We see several every year when we vacation here.
Have been seeing a Piebald doe and her twin fawns in back yard of my home in a small town in Southern ill. The woods are located in the downtown area of city. The fawns are completely normal.
Just saw a newborn piebald deer outside of Dahlonega, Ga. It’s mother was with it and of course spooked, baby allowed us to observe and take some pictures. So exciting!
I saw two deer on a walk in Montreat, North Carolina, the last of June, 2022, just before dark. They appeared to be a mother (typical coloring) and a juvenile that was mostly white with some brown around the head and neck. I didn’t know they are called piebald until I read your article. Actually, I kinda wondered if I imagined it! I’ll be on the lookout for them to walk through again!
Suzy, sounds like you had a chance to observe one of the cool color variations of white-tailed deer. Piebald are neat… and real!
We were driving on Interstate 95 between Maine and New Hampshire about 5pm on September 21, 2022 when I saw a Piebald grazing with another deer on the side of the highway. The Piebald definitely had an arched spine and short legs. It had more brown spots on its back and head, and less spots on the chest and legs. It was so exciting to see, it actually left me speechless for a few seconds.
Tina, thanks for taking the time to report your piebald sighting. Sounds like the deer you observed had some of the physical abnormalities that come along with the pigmented coat. Safe travels!
I saw a PieBald yesterday along the Maine Turnpike, what a stunning sight he was with 2 other deers grazing. Mostly white with brown spots
There is a young piebald deer and other regular deer living in the woods behind my home in Monmouth County, NJ. I love watching them wander through the complex I live in, however , recently I’ve noticed the piebald sitting a lot even in the rain in the grass. There is usually another regular deer sitting with the piebald. I am concerned that this is a sign of distress. Any thoughts?
Many years ago, there were two all-white deer in the Tunkhannock PA area at different locations. I never saw another piebald deer over the years until I saw one in the Forkston PA area 5 years ago. I do wildlife photography. So I am always watching for animals to photograph. Now, I am currently aware of 6, (possibly 7) piebalds scattered around the Tunkhannock PA area. I have photographed 1 piebald fawn with a shorter lower jaw. In one area a piebald buck was with a piebald fawn. In another area, a woman told us about 2 piebald fawns that were together. I compared pictures and the fawns had different fur patterns. Another piebald was seen by a man in another area. I was also told about a albino deer in a neighboring town.
After going so many years without seeing any piebald deer, I am curious what provoked the rare genetic anomaly to become active in so many deer this year? Could it be related to sealed, unsealed and NORM radioactivity from fracking, fracking chemical exposure (sodium attraction on gas pads leading to ingestion of fracking chemicals?) or fracking related air pollution? Could it be from numerous aerial seeding programs related to weather modification or the chemicals like barium used in relation to radar and radio signals. What would trigger the rare genetic anomaly to come out in so many deer this year?
Frank, you pose some very interesting questions. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone that can answer them definitively. I wonder if the answer is something simple, such as a couple of piebald bucks spreading the genes through the area. Bucks can cover miles during the breeding season. Has hunting decreased in the area? More development? Maybe these deer are living longer, being observed, and not put in a freezer because of changes in land use.
Had a piebald 8 point in backyard this week. He was text book with all the characteristics. Got a few photos. Loves my azaleas. Located in the Annapolis (South river) area.
Today, I observed a beautiful piebald buck walking through my property, a very residential area in Mt. Lebanon PA. This is now the second time in about 12 years I have observed a piebald deer on my property. I have also seen and photographed an albino deer in my neighborhood within this same 12 year timeframe. I wonder if they all could be from the same lineage? I feel extremely lucky to have experienced seeing these beautiful unique animals.
Chris, it sounds like the deer in your area are carrying some of the genes that contribute to color variations. I’d expect you to see more in the future. Thanks for taking the time to share your observations!
Spotted one in northeast Florida this morning. Crossing a road in Clay County near Middleburg.
My granddaughter and I a saw a mother deer and her half white fawn today in Bellingham, Washington. The fawn had such short legs I first thought it was a dog. I wish I had my phone to get a pic.
Just spotted one on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. Thought it was a goat-deer. Beautiful creature. Bigger belly and short legs. Did not get a good look at the eyes
I have lived in Boothbay, Maine, for 70 years and just saw a piebald deer for the first time! I thought it was diseased or something until I came home and Googled it. I had never heard of piebald deer. I have seen albino deer before, so it was something new.
The kid and I spotted one on a trail near our local playground yesterday – dark gray and white, in big splotches. No idea what animal it was – goat, dog? till we saw the white tail flip. Leg length and spine pretty normal, very skinny especially thru the hindquarters, dark eyes. Silver Spring, MD.
There was a handsome 6-pt buck roaming around the same patch of woods, much beefier, a bit clumsy (tried to jump a pretty easy fence and missed) – but they weren’t together, going in opposite directions.
Cindy, sounds like quite an experience at the playground!
Harvested an 8 point piebald buck in Florida today.
Saw a piebald in riverside Rhode Island today 1/6/24 on oil company property never saw or heard of one before
My friend showed me my first piebald deer this past year in his yard in Seymour tn. It was a beautiful site to see. My friend passed away shortly after that so now if I ever see another one I will think of him.