White Deer -- Ghosts Of the Forest

[Red Devil]

I actually live next to a white deer herd, said to be the largest in the world. Yeah, I'm bragging about it, it's one of the areas few claims to fame so I gotta mention it. I drive them often but have never taken any pictures. That really needs to change.

if you ever do get pics..please post them..

 

[Death Pony]

They're so pretty! Winter must be so easy for them to avoid predators.

I noticed how goat-like their eyes are last year when I was petting a fawn at a local SPCA. They're actually very closely related.

 

[Red Devil]

They're so pretty! Winter must be so easy for them to avoid predators.

I noticed how goat-like their eyes are last year when I was petting a fawn at a local SPCA. They're actually very closely related.

i never knew that.. wow

 

[Just Prince]

There are albino white tailed deer up here. Although not common, every year someone sees one and it's on the news. There was a mommy and fawn hanging around Marquette, by Presque Isle park.

Some D*** head shot an albino two years ago during deer season. He was so proud, it was in the paper. He got a lot of hate mail and couldn't understand what everyone was so upset about!

Not to start an argument but, White Deer are genetic defects. If the ecosystem functioned as it should (ie health population of wolves) they would have been picked off a long time a go.

 

[wow]

I have one in my tank

 

[Aqua Sanctuary]

I don't think these deer have albinism, not true albinism anyhow. I did a bit of research, and its unlikely for albinism to exist from generation to generation, and sustain so perfectly. I may be very wrong, but a whole herd of albino deer is an amazing new statistic.

The history of these deer is amazing.

Its great that they are protected.

Very cool story. Its amazing to see the treasures of nature such as this. I hope by studying them we do not harm them.

 

[random fish guy]

That is crazy!

 

[sandtiger]

Not to start an argument but, White Deer are genetic defects. If the ecosystem functioned as it should (ie health population of wolves) they would have been picked off a long time a go.

I wouldn't call them genetic defects, white deer are just as healthy and normal as regular deer, they're just white. Yes, this means that they are more likely to be taken by predators and the presence of a lot of them may indicate a lack of natural predators but I don't see anyone arguing that point. Many parts of the country lack natural predators, it's an issue for sure but that doesn't mean we can't admire something like a white deer. I recall reading about a white buck named Monarch who lived in Missouri in the wild for six years and apparently died there. With human hunters chopping at the bit for a chance at a white buck in addition to auto collisions and any natural predators that exist in the area any deer surviving past 1-2 years is a success story. The fact that he was a white deer is a testament not to a defect but to his ability to survive against the odds. Who knows, perhaps when the next ice age rolls around nature will favor white deer over brown.

As I said I would I finally got some photographs of my local white deer. The first picture was taken after dark within the confines of the former army depot where the majority of these white deer live (over 200). The next three were taken earlier in the day of a white deer not confined to the fence.

They aren't the best but good enough for now, I'll have to work on getting better shots. I also took a video of the deer in the depot.
You can watch it on my blog here...http://texascichlidmassacre.blogspot.com/2009/10/white-deer-videos.html
The other video is from CBS News and talks about the deer and the depot they live in.


EDIT: The YouTube embedded video thing doesn't seem to work so I just posted a link.

 

[Red Devil]

I wouldn't call them genetic defects, white deer are just as healthy and normal as regular deer, they're just white. Yes, this means that they are more likely to be taken by predators and the presence of a lot of them may indicate a lack of natural predators but I don't see anyone arguing that point. Many parts of the country lack natural predators, it's an issue for sure but that doesn't mean we can't admire something like a white deer. I recall reading about a white buck named Monarch who lived in Missouri in the wild for six years and apparently died there. With human hunters chopping at the bit for a chance at a white buck in addition to auto collisions and any natural predators that exist in the area any deer surviving past 1-2 years is a success story. The fact that he was a white deer is a testament not to a defect but to his ability to survive against the odds. Who knows, perhaps when the next ice age rolls around nature will favor white deer over brown.

As I said I would I finally got some photographs of my local white deer. The first picture was taken after dark within the confines of the former army depot where the majority of these white deer live (over 200). The next three were taken earlier in the day of a white deer not confined to the fence.

They aren't the best but good enough for now, I'll have to work on getting better shots. I also took a video of the deer in the depot.
You can watch it on my blog here...http://texascichlidmassacre.blogspot.com/2009/10/white-deer-videos.html
The other video is from CBS News and talks about the deer and the depot they live in.


EDIT: The YouTube embedded video thing doesn't seem to work so I just posted a link.

wow thats great.. just seeing them is so neat.. thanks very much for the pics... i will go watch the video too... i appreciate your posting these up.the video worked.. they are so beautiful... they cannot hide at all... they stand out with the background...

 

[sandtiger]

Yeah they do stand out, I would have missed that herd in the three pictures if not for the white individual. The roles get reversed in the winter though. Glad you liked the pics and video, they really are stunning to see.