Do Albino Alligators Haunt New York’s Sewers?

                                                                 ”It is thought clumsy holidaymakers brought several of the beasts back from Florida without realising how big they would grow – and simply flushed them down the toilet.

Urban Legend has it that the discarded alligators bred underground – turning white because of the lack of sunlight – and formed their own communities beneath the streets of the Big Apple.

Many may even have lost their eyesight and all their skin pigment to become full albinos – with clear white scales and pink eyes.

Of course, whether or not albino alligators are really patrolling the drains in New York – without ever being spotted – will always be the stuff of legend.

However albino alligators do actually exist. White alligator with red eyes can be found in the wild – although it is thought less than 30 remain worldwide.”

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The Albino Year in Review – UNT

This year, baristas debuted the Albino Squirrel, a new white chocolate coffee drink, along with a tribute collage of University of North Texas student Amanda Nordstrum’s photos of “Baby,” the second known albino squirrel to live on campus.Although a student group, the Albino Squirrel Preservation Society, pledged to look after Baby, the little squirrel was killed by a hawk last year. As the school’s unofficial mascot, the albino squirrels reportedly bring good luck to students who see them on exam days.

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Olney IL: Population of white squirrels explodes

The 29th year of counting gray and albino squirrels in Olney showed a large increase in the number of white squirrels.

The count was headed by Chris Mathews, biology instructor at Olney Central College, and Olney City Clerk Belinda Henton.

During the three weeks of the count, there were approximately 66 volunteers counting squirrels and cats, consisting of students from Olney Central College, Bridgeport Science Club and volunteers from the community.

The annual squirrel count was held at 7:30 a.m. October 13, 20 and 27.

Upon averaging data from the three counting dates, there were 872 gray squirrels, 141 albino squirrels, 18 fox squirrels and 93 cats. Compared to 2006, the gray squirrels increased 17.73 percent; the albino squirrels increased 47.38 percent; and the cats decreased by 2.11 percent. The gray to albino ratio in 2006 was 7.77 to 1; the gray to albino ratio in 2007 of 6.21 to 1 was an encouraging improvement.

Of the three weeks counted, the highest count for gray and white squirrels and cats was October 20. It was a sunny day with a temperature of 52 degrees at the beginning of the count.

This year, two visitors from the Chicago area came to Olney for the purpose of helping count squirrels. They enjoyed seeing the white squirrels and shared their enthusiasm for squirrels.

Some suggestions on ways to encourage the population are:

Feed and water the squirrels generously. This is essential.

While driving, be watchful of squirrels near the roadway and slow down in areas of large concentrations of squirrels. Many of these areas are marked with “Squirrel Crossing” signs.

Predators such as cats need to be controlled. Chapter 6 of the City of Olney Municipal Code restricts dogs and cats from running at large. This chapter also protects squirrels from being captured, trapped or harassed.

More nut and fruit trees need to be planted to help with a natural food source. Mature nut trees act as a grocery store for the squirrels that is only open for a short period of time during year.

Additional squirrel houses would help house the squirrels in severe weather and while raising their young.

Avoid cutting down trees during the times in which babies are in their nests. Squirrels are usually born in February or March and do not leave their nests until May. Another litter is usually born in July or August and do not leave until October. It possible, avoid cutting trees in February, March, April, July, August and September.

If a baby squirrel appears to be abandoned by its mother, residents are asked to leave it for a period of time because it might be possible to reunite the baby with its mother. A wildlife rehabilitator should be called for assistance.

Belinda Henton continues to hold a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and can be contacted concerning orphaned white squirrels.

Albino Tawny Frogmouth

This unusual Albino Tawney Frogmouth sits next to a normal Tawny Frogmouth he has made friends with in the aviary. He was found on the ground in a caravan park in Byron Bay with people
shooing him aside to get by.

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Partial Albino Bald Eagle

This photograph was taken by Jack Hodges at Chikat River 35 years ago.

Albino animals montage video

Albino squirrel “radioactive”?

One caller reported a radioactive squirrel, which turned out to be an albino…

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Albino bottlenose dolphin found again

“In other dolphin news this year, the pinkish albino dolphin spotted by Capt. Erik Rue of Calcasieu Charter service apparently still is alive.

Rue has seen it several times since he initially saw it in June near Calcasieu Lake, including a sighting last month. The dolphin and the four or five others who are the nondescript gray have been spotted out in the Gulf of Mexico near the ferry, through the ship channel up to the lake, he said.

“It’s a neat deal,” Rue, who usually keeps an eye out for the albino, said. “I just get lucky enough to see it.”

At first, the little dolphin stuck close to its mother. Now it has gotten bigger and sometimes ventures from her, but stays with the pod, Rue said.

Customers ask about the dolphin, and other fishermen have photographed it too, he said.

Generally, albinos don’t inherit the normal pigment-producing genes and generally have fair skin, white hair and, in some cases, red eyes.

Usually, a mother and father each will give the pigment-producing genes to the children. If both genes don’t produce pigments, then the child will be affected by albinism, according to the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation Web site.

It affects all races and types of animals. The pigment melanin, found in people and animals, helps absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays and promotes eye color development. Albinism can cause eye problems and sensitivity to light, making the skin prone to burning, according to the site.

There have been only three other confirmed sightings of albino dolphins along the Gulf Coast in the last 15 years, according to The Enterprise archives. One was spotted near New Orleans and another was south of Galveston.

“It’s been fun,” Rue said of seeing the pink dolphin.”

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Authors dig into state’s history of albino deer

 BOULDER JUNCTION WIS.— I still remember the first albino deer I ever saw. Several decades ago, while driving backroads near St. Germain in Vilas County, I braked abruptly upon spotting a white shape in the midst of a logging trail.

Verifying it was a deer, I grabbed my nearby camera, stepped out of the car and commenced taking photos. With each snap of the lens, I moved closer, expecting the animal would bolt at any moment.

With each advance — and the deer showing no signs of concern — I offered self-congratulations on my stalking prowess.

Ultimately, as I continued to edge stealthily forward, the deer came and thrust its nose in my lens, as if to say, “What took you so long to get here?”

That equanimity, as I recently learned through a newly published book “White Deer — Ghosts of the Forest” is part of northern Wisconsin’s unique, long-term relationship with albino deer.

“Because of their protected status in some states and the abundance of backyard feeders, many (white deer) exhibited a tolerance of humans not evident in their hunted brethren,” writes Mercer resident Jeff Richter, who provides the book’s interesting and award-winning photographs. He shares writing credits with John Bates of Mercer, a well-known outdoors writer and naturalist.

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