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A Rare Albino Deer Sighting

Just how rare is it to spot an albino deer?  Statistically, it's pretty rare as the chances of a deer being albino are one in 20,000! So what exactly is albinism?  According to WorldDeer.org albinism is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the cell's ability to produce melanin.

Melanin is what gives skin, fur, and other attributes their color.  Another reason it is rare to spot an albino deer is since they are white, they struggle to blend in with their surroundings, making them more susceptible to predators.

However as you'll see in photos throughout this article, they blend in extremely well when there's snow on the ground!

Can you spot the albino deer in this photo? Hint, it's to the left of the brown deer.

How about this one?

 Mail Carrier Spots Albino Deer

Michael Esposito is a rural mail carrier in Eastern Greene County, Indiana.   Along his mail route, he spotted an albino deer.  Michael has seen this deer a few times, but finally was able to capture photos of the deer!  Michael's wife Kristina shared the photos with Indiana Nature Lovers on Facebook and shared her husband's story.  I reached out to Kristina and she was kind enough to allow me to share the photos, and story of the rare deer sighting.

A Sign of Luck

Something interesting I learned while researching albino deer, is that in many cultures a white deer sighting is actually considered good luck! WorldDeer.Org says:

The general meaning behind an albino deer is the following:

• Purity of soul
• Higher thoughts and ideals
• Cleansing of spirit
• Attaining higher knowledge

White is seen as the cleanest color, so it’s associated with purity of thought and soul. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard.

With the chances of a deer being born albino being 1 in 20,000, I'd have to agree that seeing one is pretty lucky!

A special thank you to Michael and Kristina Esposito for allowing me to share the images in this article.