— from Tony Ayer —
Over the years we have all seen the multicolored deer that some refer to as “ goat deer “…Is it simply inbreeding?
I have heard stories of a true albino buck that lived in the state park and had a grand time with the herds of does that shelter there in safety from hunters.
However, I have never seen a pure white doe ( small..young ? ) until today. She has a black tail And black ears…..location undisclosed….. Can someone explain this phenomenon?
I remember the albino deer when I was a kid, it was commonly seen at Rosario.
I believe that it’s the result of “inbreeding,” among a too-small and insufficiently diverse genetic population.
Otherwise-recessive traits, for instance albinism, have a chance to dominate when genetic diversity is reduced.
It’s why you’re not supposed to have children with your brother or sister, or with your own offspring.
Steve’s suspicions are likely the most plausible. Over the past two decades, we’ve also witnessed an increase in such “piebald” deer running around our property. No pink eyes yet, but the mechanism of albinism borne of genetic inbreeding seems valid.
But a few years back, we also heard an unproven explanation about the introduction of genetic material from Japanese white “snow deer,” gifted from the Emperor of Japan to Speiden Island’s John Wayne?!! Folk mythology in the making?
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-offering-1000-encourage-hunting-private-property-san-juan-and-island-counties Too many deer are a problem on Orcas; they are sick and inbred. If you have more than 5 acres you can do something about it. Please get your neighborhoods together on this. People who think they are all “Bambis” need not discuss.
These creatures are most probably introduced drones who have been planted here to surveil unsuspecting citizens who dare live off the grid. Either that or health care consultants.
If I understand correctly, it is the result of a recessive gene but is not a genetic defect and is not a health condition. While albinism is possible in our native deer, the piebalds are not albinos – if they were they would have no pigmentation at all. Among twins, one can be piebald and the other not.
I have seen piebald fawns this spring in my neighborhood at Buckhorn, in Moran State Park, and at Obstruction Pass.
I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ve heard that Robert Moran introduced white deer to his property on purpose just because he liked them. In those days it was not unheard of for wealthy persons to import exotic species from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor to decorate their estates. But piebalds can also occur without being descendants of imports.
They look to me like they left the house in their pajamas. While it can’t be an evolutionary advantage to be the whitest thing in the woods, I don’t think they’re cause for alarm.
You might wish to speak with Joe Springer, retired professor of wildlife biology, who gave a talk about them this summer during the Moran summer programs.
It’s called “piebaldism” and Joe Springer will be giving a free lecture on this phenomenon at the Orcas Senior Center on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 1pm. Meeting of the Minds is a free lecture series sponsored by the non-profit at the Senior Center on the 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Lots of interesting topics lined up for this winter – including this one about our special local deer!
Here is an article about a similar phenomenom in upstate New York
https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/0819senecawhitedeer.pdf
Hey, if it worked in upstate New York…! Another tourist opportunity?