Rare White Deer in Upstate New York Leave Locals in Awe
A local woman recently captured photos of what appeared to be a family of striking white deer wandering through an Upstate New York forest.
The images were taken and published to social media by a woman named Nikki Styers, who chose not to reveal the exact location —a decision praised by many who worry about the safety of these rare animals.
The deer appear to be leucistic white-tailed deer, not albino. Leucism causes a loss of pigmentation in the fur but not the eyes, which remain brown. These unique animals are often mistaken for albinos but are genetically distinct.
Are They Protected in New York State?
While New York State doesn’t have a law protecting all white or leucistic deer, there is one well-known exception: the Seneca white deer of Seneca County…