Stepping back from the hustle of humankind’s perpetual day to day, few would disagree that when taking time to acknowledge all that Mother Nature offers, we are hard pressed to not stand in admiration. It matters not where you live, sunrise to sunset, nature, and its plethora of wildlife makes existence nothing less than awe inspiring.
Such is the case when traveling the expanse of Deer Haven Park on any given day, especially during tourist season. No matter how long you’ve lived or traveled in the area, an encounter with a white whitetail is still profound, awe inspiring, and hovering on spiritual enlightenment.
As amazing as these occurrences are, however, what is even more profound, as some have come to discover, is that of the piebald. A piebald is born with a combination of color, in this case brown and white, which can present in any blending. A piebald of other species also can be black and white, such as those in dogs and horses.
Certainly, white whitetail sightings in the wild are rare but not impossible. Appearances have been noted in Wisconsin, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other parts of New York State. Although, what is difficult to determine when witnessing any white whitetail in the wild, unless one can get close enough to ascertain, is whether that deer is albino or leucistic. We know that the herd at DHP carry the leucistic gene, which differs greatly from that of the albino and plays a role in the backdrop of the piebald.
The leucistic gene lacks pigmentation for brown fur and is recognized as occurring in less than 5% of any given whitetail herd. Taking this into consideration, what is more amazing is that within this small percentage of white whitetail there is merely a 2% chance of a piebald birth. Piebald, as well, have been spotted in the wild in many locations. Considering the chances of their birth, seeing one can be considered a blessing.
Some resources note that on occasion a piebald can present with anomalies. For example, they can have an overbite or shorter legs. Not as obvious could be the presence of scoliosis of the spine or even internal organ deformities. Notwithstanding, witnessing the allure of a piebald is a remarkable happenstance.
Due to its rarity, since 2016’s inception, DHP has witnessed only two piebalds. These beauties have blended well into their herds and both appear to be without obvious defect. The first was seen in the fall of 2016 but became obscure after that winter. Whether or not they made it through that first year remains a mystery.
The second birth of this rare phenomenon, however, was recently experienced in the autumn of 2022. The staff was elated to see this youngster come through last winter undeterred and she (presuming she’s a doe) was seen again grazing with her herd in spring 2023. Summer rolled by keeping her elusive. However, enter autumn and she resurfaced during a bus tour, much to the delight of all visitors onboard. The park is happy to share that she again made an appearance during regular offseason rounds this January. She seems to be holding her own against the backdrop of winter, and it is hoped she will remain strong and viable through to springtime.
Could there be future piebald in store for DHP? One can only venture a guess, but in the meantime, amazements never cease within the abundance of nature and wildlife that find home within the vast acreage that lies beyond the fence.
Dee Calvasina is the author of “Beyond the Fence, The Amazing World of Deer Haven Park,” freelance writer, and monthly columnist for the Finger Lakes Times who supports the conservation of military history, nature, and wildlife at Deer Haven Park, LLC.
BEYOND THE FENCE: Amazements never cease
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10.02.2024
Stepping back from the hustle of humankind’s perpetual day to day, few would disagree that when taking time to acknowledge all that Mother Nature offers, we are hard pressed to not stand in admiration. It matters not where you live, sunrise to sunset, nature, and its plethora of wildlife makes existence nothing less than awe inspiring.
Such is the case when traveling the expanse of Deer Haven Park on any given day, especially during tourist season. No matter how long you’ve lived or traveled in the area, an encounter with a white whitetail is still profound, awe inspiring, and hovering on spiritual enlightenment.
As amazing as these occurrences are, however, what is even more profound, as some have come to discover, is that of the piebald. A piebald is born with a combination of color, in this case brown and white, which can present in any blending. A piebald of other species also can be black and........
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