Rare white deer spotted in Youngstown
Mill Creek Park officials say a white deer that's been spotted over the past few months is not an albino, but another relatively rare genetic variation. A 21 News viewer sent us a picture of the deer seen in the Bears Den and Old Furnace areas recently. Mill Creek MetroParks Director of Recreation and Education, Carol Vigorito says park officials have been seeing the deer since mid-summer when it was still a fawn.
Mill Creek Park officials say a white deer that's been spotted over the past few months is not an albino, but another relatively rare genetic variation.
A 21 News viewer sent us a picture of the deer seen in the Bears Den and Old Furnace areas recently.
Mill Creek MetroParks Director of Recreation and Education, Carol Vigorito says park officials have been seeing the deer since mid-summer when it was still a fawn.
Vigorito calls the young deer a button buck, due to the presence of two small nubs on its head instead of antlers.
She says it is not considered to be an albino because early in the season when it should have had spots, it was more of a cream color.
It's eyes are not a true pink as a true albino would have.
Vigorito calls the deer's genetic condition “Leucism”, which is a lessening of pigment, but color isn't totally missing.
She says as winter approaches, the deer is developing a darker, almost gray coat.
