More Rare Iowa Wildlife: Spotting Elusive Squirrel Colorings

I have always tried to pay attention to wildlife around Iowa and through the tri-state area. Our native wildlife is amazing already, but every once in a while, something rare shows up. I recently started noticing just that in my local squirrel population. It made me stop and think a little more about what is actually moving through our backyards.

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I have been watching an all-black squirrel make itself at home in my Cascade neighborhood. He's quite adept at crossing the road in front of my vehicle at least weekly. Not long ago I even came across a rare all-white squirrel while hiking in Wisconsin. With recent reports of a white bison calf and a white deer fawn spotted in Iowa, it feels like these rare color variations seem to be popping up more. Maybe it's just that we're all paying better attention.

Either way, it got me wondering just how rare these smaller critters are.

For instance, my black squirrel. It's most likely an eastern gray squirrel with a condition called melanism, which causes extra dark pigment. I didn't realize this, but in some areas they are not unheard. It seems that in certain towns small local populations of black squirrels can become "the norm." Still, across most of Iowa, seeing one is unusual enough to make you pause.

Now white squirrels are a different story entirely. Most are leucistic, meaning they have reduced pigmentation rather than being true albinos. This seems to be the case with the squirrel I captured photos of. From what I have read, a true albino squirrel may occur as rarely as 1 in 100,000 births. That's the kind of rarity where even lifelong outdoor observers might never see one. So, when I saw a white squirrel, I definitely had to take my time to get a few photographs.

What stands out to me is how these rare traits show up across different species. In Iowa's case the squirrels, deer, and even bison, and all in the same Midwest region. It is a reminder that nature is always mixing things up genetically, even if we don't always have a chance to see it.

These sightings can turn ordinary walks and daily life into something much more memorable. It's why I try to get out and explore; what makes living in Iowa interesting. You never quite know what you might see or run into next.