The white-phase gray squirrel I saw a few years ago was leucistic. Albino gray squirrels are the rarest form of white squirrel. Mammalogists estimate that the odds of a female gray squirrel giving birth to an albino offspring are 1 in 100,000.
What are the odds of seeing an albino squirrel?
The odds of seeing an albino squirrel are just one-in-100,000.
Are albino squirrels extinct?
These animals are extremely rare in North America—unless you visit some key places. While there are two known species of white squirrel in Asia, there aren't any in North America, so if you've spotted an all-white or mostly white squirrel in the wild here, you've seen something quite rare.
Are albino squirrels good luck?
The rarity of a white or albino squirrel means that they are widely considered to be a sign of good luck. The chances of coming across a white squirrel out and about are incredibly slim. This is a very positive omen and one that you should accept with open arms.
Why are white squirrels rare?
For some odd reason, eastern grey squirrels in the US do have a gene that will make their coats white. It's somewhat rare to see a white squirrel, though, because white squirrels are likely highly selected against. In other words, predators to squirrels such as hawks really like it when their prey is highlighted white!
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
Can you get white squirrels in the UK?How many albino squirrels are in the UK?
