iN VIDEO: Rare white squirrel forages in North Okanagan forest

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Cherryville resident and nature enthusiast Dustin Lynx discovered a rare critter on a section of the rail trail in Enderby last week and captured a video of it.

A snowy white squirrel was busy hopping on tree branches and bustling along the ground.

“It was hard to miss and it took me by surprise,” Lynx said.

A white coloured squirrel is a rare sight and is either the result of leucism or albinism, two genetic conditions that affect pigment production, according to White Squirrel Institute.

Albino squirrels have white fur and pink or red coloured eyes and skin. The genetic odds of a squirrel being born albino are estimated to be around one in 100,000.

A squirrel with leucism has white or partially white fur and black or brown coloured eyes. Leucism is slightly more common than albinism and often results in uniquely patterned squirrels.

The squirrel in Lynx’s video appears to have leucism.

Lynx aims to get into nature every day as there is always “something to marvel at,” like this snowy white squirrel.

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