Running an errand recently, I sighted a small herd of White-tailed deer that included a rare single piebald. Piebald deer have a coloration pattern of white and brown, similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white.
Piebaldness occurs due to genetic variations and not due to parasites or illness.
Contrary to popular belief, a piebald deer is not a cross between a normal White-tailed deer and an albino. An albino deer has pink eyes, a pink nose, and pinkish hooves, whereas a piebald deer has normal brown eyes and nose with black hooves like the normal White-tailed.
Though rare, piebald deer are more common than the white, albino, or the extremely rare melanistic (black) deer. Scientists say that less than one percent of White-tailed deer in a herd carry the genetic defect, and fewer yet exhibit the piebald traits.
This is a new wildlife sighting for me, so you know I was thrilled and had to share!
