The White Squirrel Phenomenon

White Squirrel/ St. Clairsville, OH/B. Green

Genesis 2:19a: Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky.

The White Squirrel Phenomenon 

Walking season has come again, and how I love it! After a long and seriously cold winter, walking on the “trail” in our St. Clairsville home is liberating to the body and soul. Fresh air, flowers, smiling people whose faces one begins to recognize, and wildlife–deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and specifically, white squirrels, frolic about. 

For a long time, I didn’t realize what a phenomenon the white squirrels are. For years we would hear about sightings once in a while and think, “albino squirrel.” Then they began to turn up in more places–city park, the walking trail, our road, downtown residential areas–and I thought perhaps this was just more than one random squirrel. Turns out, it is more!

Asian White Squirrels

“The white squirrels we see in North America are the result of various rare genetic variants or mutations. However, in Thailand and other parts of East Asia there is a sub-species of tree squirrel, the Finlayson’s squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii), in which a white coat is characteristic of the species. White coats may be common place amongst this group, but broadly speaking it is still a vary rare squirrel color. There are over 200 species of squirrels and only one subspecies is found to have white as a primary color morph!”

That’s Asia. However, in North America, white squirrel populations have become well-known in Brevard, NC;  Olney, IL; Versailles, IL; Hodgenville, KY; Marionville, MO; Trenton, NJ; Bloomfield, NY; Greenwood, SC; and Kenton, TN. It’s pretty cool that we have an active, though small, population right here in St. Clairsville, OH.

Types of North American White Squirrels

There are several types of white squirrels which seem to be variations of the Eastern Gray.  

Leucistic Squirrels (Most Common): These possess a genetic mutation that causes partial loss of pigmentation. They are not pure white; they usually have dark eyes and may have a grey stripe down their back or a grey patch on their head.

Albino Squirrels (Rare): These result from a genetic mutation that prevents melanin production entirely. They are characterized by pure white fur, pink or light blue eyes, and pink skin/noses. They are more vulnerable to predators due to poor eyesight.

Piebald Squirrels: A form of leucism where the squirrel has patches of white and patches of normal gray or brown fur. 

According to The White Squirrel Institute (yes, there is such a thing), Additional differences between white and gray squirrels have not been documented. “In every way other than coat color, white squirrels appear to be normal Eastern Gray Squirrels. They even behave in ways that would be appropriate for a gray variant. For example, when approached while foraging on the ground, they will run to the nearest tree and ‘spread eagle’ on the trunk. When a gray squirrel does this, it is camouflaged against the dark bark. But a white squirrel sticks out like a ‘sore squirrel.’ …White and gray squirrels that have been raised together show no evidence of ostracizing one another. They forage side by side. Non-siblings probably show the same territorial tendencies toward each other, regardless of color, although this has not be fully documented.”

Miracles of Creation

The squirrels that we regularly encounter are very white, dark-eyed, and quite a contrast to the grays with which they frolic. Although the science is there, I guess I just choose to view them as some of God’s special, good, and gentle creatures–miracles of creation that He has chosen to place in our midst.

God bless you, and may you keep your eyes open to see His miracles!