WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WKBW) — A rare white deer was spotted in West Seneca on Clinton Street, near Northwood Avenue in West Seneca Monday afternoon.
The West Seneca Police Department posted pictures of the deer, with the belief that it could possibly be a "Seneca White Deer."
The Department of Environmental Conservation chimed into the photos, saying that the creature appears to be a "leucistic white-tailed deer."
This appears to be a leucistic white-tailed deer.
Leucism, where there are white patches, or in some cases all white fur, is a rare condition. True albinism, where the animal completely lacks pigment, even in the eyes, is even more rare than leucism. The deer in the photo is not an albino deer.
Both leucistic and albinistic animals can be found across the landscape and are subject to the same rules and regulations promulgated for white-tailed deer hunting. These animals tend to have high rates of mortality because they are so conspicuous to predators.
As this is an urban/suburban area, that may be contributing to the "success" of this animal as we tend to see lower mortality rates for deer in more developed areas.
TJ Pignataro, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
