The Albino Squirrel of Prospect Park

Yesterday, an albino squirrel was spotted in Prospect Park, making us wonder about the origins of albino squirrels. A quick search on NYTimes.com led us to a 1988 Q&A about squirrel "genetic isolation, inbreding and mutation". According to Prospect Park ecologist Gerald Escayg, squirrels don't avoid them, but since the pouplation is so large, there are only few mutations:

In Prospect Park, for example, there is an albino squirrel, but only one so far, he noted. He said it was unlikely that the trait would appear in the next generation but more likely that it would be shown in the one after that.

Now, a squirrel's life expectancy is about one year (though it can go up to 10), which could make this albino squirrel a descendant after 17-18 generations!

Other photographs of Prospect Park's albino squirrel from honeycut and sbethell.

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By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on October 8, 2006 12:20 PM

Comments [rss]

rotodome

There's more than one of these at the park. I've been seeing them for years, sometimes more than one at once. And no, their eyes are not pink.

Not Amused

I've seen that before, Just goes to show you the world is full of unusal creatures .

arthur medrano

that's a terrible picture

try this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/runendlessly/as3.jpg

robin.g

They live a year, or up to 10 years? That's a big difference.

Tim Dierks

This squirrel definitely doesn't have pink eyes--I saw it last week.

ATOMISCHE

Red-eye reduction features don't actually change eye color, they just use a pre-flash to constrict pupils. I bet this squirrel is a partial albino, or it would have red/pink eyes as well.

Anon E. Mouse

The eyes aren't "pink" (red from what I've seen) probably since most new cameras come with auto red eye correction.

ATOMISCHE

As one Flickr commenter asked ... how come it's eyes aren't pink? I've seen pictures of these critters elsewhere and they usually have pink eyes. Guess I'll have to get the camera and check this one out.

Constant Dater

They get swooped up and eaten by various owls, red tail hawks, and other predators. On damp ground, one little squirrel doesn't take long to decay. Circle of life, y'all.