Mammal | Backyard
Have you ever spotted a white squirrel? If so, you’ve had a pretty lucky sighting! These snowy-white squirrels are rare, which makes spotting one extra exciting. But why are some squirrels white, and just how rare are they? Let’s take a closer look at these rare little creatures!
Not every white squirrel is an albino! A white squirrel may be albino or leucistic (loo-SIS-tik), and one of the easiest clues is to look at its eyes.
Albino squirrels - Albino squirrels have white fur and pink or reddish-looking eyes.
Leucistic squirrels - Leucistic squirrels may or may not be all white. Some may have patches of normal-colored fur. Or, their color may be so light they look white compared to the squirrels around them. Unlike albino squirrels, they usually have dark eyes.
Brevard, North Carolina: Brevard is home to one of the largest leucistic white squirrel populations. The city protects them and celebrates them annually with a White Squirrel Festival.
Brevard’s famous white squirrel story begins with a carnival truck that supposedly overturned in Florida in 1949. A pair of white squirrels connected to the accident eventually made their way to Brevard. After one escaped, the other was released, and, according to local history, this began Brevard’s white-squirrel population.
Olney, Illinois: Famous for a large population of albino white squirrels.
Olney’s white squirrel story goes back to the early 1900s, and there is more than one version! Local history tells of white squirrels captured in the surrounding countryside and brought into town. They displayed them at Jasper Banks’ saloon before eventually releasing them. Their descendants are believed to have helped establish Olney’s famous population of true albino squirrels.
Marionville, Missouri
White squirrels have lived in Marionville since at least the 1800s, but no one knows exactly where they came from. Were they brought from Florida? Did they escape from a circus wagon? Were they bred in captivity? The town has heard all of these stories, but their true beginning remains a mystery.
Kenton, Tennessee
Kenton's white squirrel population story says that a traveling group stopped near town and was allowed to stay on a local farmer’s land. To thank him, the travelers gave the farmer a pair of white squirrels. The squirrels were released among the trees, where they multiplied and eventually became one of Kenton’s most famous residents.
Exeter, Ontario
White squirrels have been documented in Exeter since at least
1912. In fact, they were such a familiar sight that locals reportedly didn’t realize how unusual their white squirrels were until much later! Today, the white squirrel is one of Exeter’s best-known symbols but there is no know history of where they came from.
Washington, D.C.
Unlike some famous white-squirrel towns, Washington, D.C. doesn’t have one legendary pair of squirrels said to have started its population. Squirrels have been encouraged in the capital’s parks for more than a century, and unusual white squirrels have occasionally appeared among them. A white squirrel even made the news on the White House grounds in 1936! Today, lucky visitors may still occasionally spot a white squirrel around the city’s parks and green spaces.
Could One Live Near You? You don’t have to live in a famous white-squirrel town to spot one! White squirrels can pop up in ordinary squirrel populations, so keep your eyes open; you never know when a flash of white might scamper across your yard, park, or neighborhood!
Did you spot a white squirrel? Your sighting could help researchers learn more about where these unusual squirrels live!
Become a Citizen Scientist:
Citizen scientists are everyday people who make observations about nature and share what they find.
If you see a white squirrel, take a photo from a safe distance and write down where and when you saw it. White-squirrel organizations and wildlife observation websites allow people to report sightings, helping create a bigger picture of where white squirrels are living. Remember to look closely! Is the squirrel completely white or does it have patches of gray?
Are its eyes dark or pinkish? Those little details can make your observation even more useful.
Where to Report?
Click the button below to report a white squirrel sighting to the White Squirrel Institute.
So keep your eyes on the trees, lawns, parks, and even golf courses. There could be a white squirrel living closer to you than you think!
White squirrels share their neighborhoods with plenty of other wild animals. Look up in the trees, around your backyard, or along a woodland trail, and you might spot chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons, and even owls nearby. Discover more about these wild neighbors and the interesting ways they share their habitats with squirrels.
Outdoor Activity: Become A Citizen Scientist
Become a Citizen Scientist!
Use this fun observation sheet to record where you found a white squirrel. Record what it looked like, where you were, and what it was doing. Then, become a Citizen Scientist by reporting your sighting to the White Squirrel Institute.
