Rare white piebald deer spotted in Berlin, Mass.
Experts say seeing this variation of deer is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
Digital Content Producer, Video
BERLIN, Mass. —
Late Friday afternoon, a couple captured images of a rarely seen two-toned white piebald deer.
The deer was seen next to an off-ramp near the Highland Commons Mall in Berlin on Aug. 14.
According to Dr. Martin Feehan, MassWildlife deer and moose biologist, this deer is extremely uncommon to spot.
“When people end up seeing any of these color morphs, certainly take the opportunity to photograph them and enjoy seeing them,” Feehan said. “It’s a very rare sight that you may never see again [your] entire life.”
While it is special to catch a glimpse of a Piebald deer, they are not entirely uncommon. One in every 500 to 1,000 deer has piebaldism, the genetic distinction that makes their fur white with brown patches, Feehan said.
Piebald deer are the second most common in the state behind a typical deer with a brown or dark red coat.
“At any given time in Massachusetts, there’s going to be between 150 and 250 piebald deer,” Feehan said.
The third most common deer variation in the state is the leucistic deer, which have completely white coats with dark eyes and hooves. According to Feehan, this deer only has a one in 20,000 to 30,000 chance of being born.
The most uncommon of all is the melanistic deer whose fur is dark brown or even black. This variation only appears in one in every 500,000 deer, according to Feehan.
Piebald deer do have one unfortunate thing that sets them apart from other variations. The same trait associated with their partially white fur also increases piebald deer’s likelihood of being born with spinal deformations.
“Most fawns that are born with piebaldism actually die within that first week just because of how severe the skeletal deformations can be,” Feehan said. “But then you have others, about 10 or 15% of them, that are able to survive to adulthood.”
Piebald deer can develop curved spines and noses as well as hook-shaped hooves and other leg problems. According to Feehan, many piebald fawns don’t survive their first week of life.
“It’s definitely always exciting to see one. I mean, I’ve seen them in the wild multiple times,” Feehan said. “And no matter what, even as a biologist, I know all those negative impacts; it’s still an incredible thing to see.”