Yesterday evening Lance and I saw a unique animal that neither of us had encountered before; a primarily-white deer!
We were driving on Interstate 16 between Macon and Savannah, Georgia and noticed the deer in the trees along the edge of the road. We pulled over and snapped a few photos before the deer disappeared into the woods. This was such a rare encounter it made for a very special experience, and left me wondering what exactly that odd coloration was about.
After doing some research, I learned that the color pattern was known as piebald.
What Does Piebald Mean?
In whitetail deer, this means the animal has a splotchy white coat instead of their typical brown coloration[1]. However, this is not to be confused with fawn coloration as all fawns have white spots on their back for camouflage during the first 90 to 120 days of their lives[2]. After that time, normal whitetail deer fawns’ spots will fade and their brown coat will take over while piebald whitetail deer will still have a white splotchy appearance.
How is Piebald is Different than Albino?
People often call a deer that has white coloration albino, but piebald deer are different from albino animals. Albinism makes a deer appear to have a white coat because they lack pigment[3]. Albino deer also have pink eyes and a pink nose whereas piebald deer retain the brown eyes and nose of a normal whitetail deer[4].
What Causes Piebald Characteristics?
Piebald coloration is caused by recessive genes. Because of that, piebald deer are more likely to occur in areas of dense deer population where it is more likely that two animals with the recessive genes could mate[5]. Inbreeding in a population can also increase the occurrence of piebald coloration [1].
How Do Piebald Characteristics Affect an Animal?
Piebald deer may present a range of abnormal characteristics. Some animals appear normal except for their coloration, while others have physical deformities. Common deformities are shortened and crooked legs or spine, shortened lower jaw bone, and bowing of the nose[5].
Additionally, the splotchy white coloration can cause the animal to be more susceptible to predation as it lacks the camouflage an all-brown coat can provide.
The deformities and lack of camouflage result in shorter lifespans for piebald deer as compared to normal whitetail deer.
Why Does Seeing a Piebald Deer Matter?
Piebald deer are rare, but it has been noted that higher deer densities can lead to an increased prevalence of these characteristics[5]. Additionally, inbreeding in a population can also increase the occurrence of piebald coloration [1]. Therefore, it is important to monitor deer populations for an increase in piebald deer as that could indicate the need for culling of a herd or other population management strategies in order to ensure there are enough resources for the deer occupying an area, and/or it could indicate the need to prevent inbreeding and manage for genetic diversity.
Seeing a piebald deer was a unique experience that only furthered my enthusiasm about the complexities of the natural world. And, this wonderful sighting occurred right along the side of the road, while we were on a routine car trip. So, remember to always keep your eyes and ears open as you never know what you might find!
