“If you live in an area by a growing deer population, the standard, brown, white-tailed variety are a dime a dozen.  But a Piebald deer, with its distinguishable white markings, stands out like a unicorn, rare and beautiful.” I came across and wrote down this often repeated sentiment while researching Piebald deer. 

All I can say is, “SO TRUE!!”

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Note: portions copied and pasted from my Facebook article.

Saturday, June 27, 2020:  Late start, the weather forecast is for storms, but the overcast day has me ready to go for a quick auto tour, another one of my ‘Looking for Stuff’ adventures.  There is just something about how the dark cloudy days completely change the flavor of the photos, some really beautiful shading and color textures!!  

Game plan: picnic brunch at Hope Market, in the center of Historic Hope Village. I lived two houses up the street in 1992.  I’ll then take a slow ride through the Honey Run Wildlife Management Area and its surrounding back roads.  Nothing earth shattering on my tour, BUT, just something about those small wildflowers! Amid the grand panorama they barely make a mark, BUT, ZOOM IN, they present themselves amid their immediate surroundings in a beautiful display!!  

Heading down Ramseyburg Road, reaching Route 46, and notice the Ramsayburg Historic Homestead, dressed with American Flags and drapes, all set for the Fourth of July!  This is a beautiful twelve acre park along the Delaware River.  It makes a wonderful Family visit!!  

I made a right onto Route 46 and went through the Delaware Historic District of Knowlton Township, and then head up back up the mountain on CR-605 (or Delaware Road), making my way to the Columbia Wildlife Management Area to check on the river’s restoration project along the Paulinskill.  

Driving up the hill, I catch this small white animal alongside the road!! Somebody’s pet goat? STOP & REALIZE I am looking at a 90 percent white fawn!! It crossed the road and into the woods.

Where was this when I did my Photo of the Week article two weeks ago, about fawns and their camouflage!!??

This is a great example of the old adage, “You can run but you can’t hide!” He better be a great runner!!  

I posted my ‘Looking for Stuff Trip’ on Facebook when I returned home with photos of the White Fawn!!  One of my Facebook friends, Pam Taylor, a photographer from Blairstown, made a comment on one of the photos:

“What a beautiful Piebald fawn!”

I had never heard of the word Piebald!!  First thing, open my Webster’s Dictionary!!  

Definition:

Piebald

Adjective, covered with patches or spots of two colors, especially white and black.

Noun, a piebald horse or other animal.  

OK, I learned something NEW!!  Now to research a Piebald fawn!  

Question:  What are Piebald deer?  

The term Piebald comes from the word ‘pie,’ as in a magpie, a black and white crow, and ‘bald.’  Piebaldism is a genetic abnormality that results in patches that lack pigmentation. Some Piebald deer have just a little white or might be all white!

Piebaldism is thought to be recessive, meaning that both parents need to carry the gene for the chance of a piebald fawn. Having a piebald mother does not necessarily mean having a Piebald fawn.

Question:  What is the difference from a Piebald and Albino?

Piebald deer are different from albino deer.  Albino deer have pink eyes, noses and hooves, while Piebald have brown or black eyes, noses and hooves.  

Besides their different coat, a Piebald deer could have various issues, such as a “bowing nose,” overbite, arching spine, short legs and deformities in the organs.

Question:  How rare are Piebald deer?

The Piebald deer is extremely difficult to find in just about any field! Reports have claimed that there is less than 1 percent of Piebald deer in the entire deer population, and even less albino deer roaming around in the wild!!

Interesting links with Photos and videos about Piebald deer:

A deer fawn with rare piebald markings on its coat was captured on wildlife cameras on a Conservation Collier preserve. According to the University of Florida, fewer than 1% of deer have piebald coats.

Some nice videos of Piebald Fawns I found online.

While looking at these photos, keep one thing in mind, “You are looking at the other end of the spectrum when talking about camouflage!!”

Enjoy Your Open Space – You never know what You might come across!!

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.