Rare white deer spotted in London, Ont.

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
Rare white deer spotted in London, Ont.

By Alex Weber, QMI Agency

LONDON, ONT. - At first glance, they looked like a pair of lost goats.

But it didn't take long for David Baert to realize the animals passing through his west London, Ont., farm weren't goats at all, but something much rarer.

Two pure white deer -- likely brothers -- spent about 10 minutes in Baert's west London backyard earlier this month.

"I thought it was very unusual," he said. "You don't normally see animals like that."

Legend has it that extremely rare white deer are symbols of good luck, the spirit world and peace.

Though there's no steadfast evidence that proves seeing a white deer will bring you any luck, they are very rare.

The chances of a deer being pure white are about one in 10,000, according to wildlife officials.

Ben Hindmarsh, a fish and wildlife specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, said two genetic conditions explain the deer's mystical appearance: leucism and albinism.

The deer Baert saw passing through his yard were likely leucistic because the pigment in their face and eyes isn't consistent with albinism, he said.

While leucism in deer isn't associated with any other abnormalities, it can make it hard for animals to camouflage in the summer months meaning they're easy targets for predators.

After taking a look at the pictures Hindmarsh said the deer were both male, and about a year old.
As for where the brothers came from?

Hindmarsh isn't sure.

"There is potential that the animals are naturally leucistic but they may also have come from a captive bred source," he said.

Rare white deer spotted in London, Ont. - Weird News - Canoe.ca
****************************************************************************
If they walked through my lanes, I'd pass on them.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
192
63
Nakusp, BC


Found wondering on highway just outside Kamloops BC.



Can't remember where they were filmed.

Also this herd of white deer;

Ghosts of the Forest - YouTube
 

bobnoorduyn

Council Member
Nov 26, 2008
2,262
28
48
Mountain Veiw County
Hmmm, never heard of white deer, seen pix of white "black"bears, or spirit bears. But the oddest thing I did see was a white raven. It was on a trip nearly 20 years ago to visit old friends who had moved to Elliot Lake. My wife spotted it chowing on carrion on the side of the road into Elliot Lake and said "what the H*** is that?". I stopped, and sure enough, beard, hooked bill, looked like an elder, definately a raven. It wasn't a pure snow white, kind of chalky, like three day old snow. I got out my camera but it was too late, and when it took flight, yeah, it was a raven. I've told others about the encounter and the response was rather ho hum. Never seen one before or since. Has anyone else seen one?
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
15,441
150
63
Hmm, I've never seen a white raven. I've seen white rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon though. Pretty weird looking, wouldn't last long in the wild.
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
Hmm, I've never seen a white raven. I've seen white rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon though. Pretty weird looking, wouldn't last long in the wild.
I've seen white Perch and Sunfish.

Strangest looking critters. The Perch was mature, about 13" long.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
192
63
Nakusp, BC
I saw two partially white crows in the Nakusp park. One was mottled with random white feathers and the other had patterns of white feathers. Both were killed by other crows before they reached maturity. I talked to our local bird specialist and he was aware of them and said that every once in a while, variations on white and black crows show up. He thinks it is a recessive gene in the Nakusp area gene pool.

Perhaps someone dumped some chlorine in the gene pool.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
192
63
Nakusp, BC
This is interesting because it is not an albino.

It DOES kind of look like a goat.
Goats, I think, are more related to antelope. They have horns not antlers like deer and do not shed them annually. I used to raise goats and have held a lot of kids on my arms. I have also held fawns in my arms and I think they are by far more beautiful and innocent in looks and disposition.
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
3
36
London, Ontario
This is interesting because it is not an albino.

Neither were the two deer in the OP news article. Is this something that, although perhaps rare, is present with all species? I've heard of albino(ism?) but never this.


Goats, I think, are more related to antelope. They have horns not antlers like deer and do not shed them annually. I used to raise goats and have held a lot of kids on my arms. I have also held fawns in my arms and I think they are by far more beautiful and innocent in looks and disposition.
I don't think all deer look like goats but the guy in the article stated the two white ones he saw looked almost like goats and I was concurring with the picture. The one you posted earlier of the albino deer doesn't though, in my opinion. Just a casual observation.
 

bobnoorduyn

Council Member
Nov 26, 2008
2,262
28
48
Mountain Veiw County
8O...........A friend regularly sees white elephants. He's usually restrained at the time.

Neat pics of the deer.:thumbup:

Oh I've seen my share of white elephants, they're nearly always the products of zealous politicians, airport authorities, health authorities and the like 8O, but I digress.
 

gears

New Member
Jun 3, 2012
1
0
1
More white deer pictures taken in London Ontario.
 

Attachments

  • DSCF4165.JPG
    DSCF4165.JPG
    460.3 KB · Views: 5
  • DSCF4166.JPG
    DSCF4166.JPG
    459.7 KB · Views: 3
  • DSCF4167.JPG
    DSCF4167.JPG
    461.7 KB · Views: 2
  • DSCF4168.JPG
    DSCF4168.JPG
    456.1 KB · Views: 3
  • DSCF4169.JPG
    DSCF4169.JPG
    460 KB · Views: 2