Albino Deer

Here are two photos of albino deer that were captured on Moultrie game cameras. We contacted Steve Ditchkoff, an Auburn University Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, to see if he could share some insight about these “rare” deer. Ditchkoff said that it is not really that uncommon for albinos to be born in the wild. He has seen several species of animals that exhibit albinism. Ditchkoff states that albino animals have a high mortality rate because they stick out and become an easy target for predators. Due to heavy predation, Ditchkoff said it is somewhat uncommon for animals to make it to adulthood - thus making albinos a rare sight in the wild. Since albinos are so rare, they are protected by law in most states.

There are many myths and legends about albino deer that have been passed down through history. Many Native Americans believed that just seeing an albino deer would bring them good luck. These “ghost deer” were thought to bring magical and healing powers. Killing one of these animals would ultimately cause a hunter to lose his hunting ability and may ultimately cause the death of the hunter in some kind of freak hunting accident.

Thanks for sharing these photos with us, hopefully it will bring us all good luck in the upcoming season!