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NEED TO KNOW
- A Michigan man spotted a rare albino deer on his way to work on June 18
- The man, Ramez Khuri, said he was “thrilled” by the unusual sighting
- Albinism occurs in about 1 in every 30,000 deer, per some estimates
A Michigan man was recently greeted with an unexpected surprise — a rare albino deer.
Ramez Khuri was driving to work at about 4:45 a.m. local time on June 18 when he noticed the animal at the edge of a nearby apartment complex.
“Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a white deer standing at the entrance of an apartment complex. I passed it and said to myself, ‘Is that what I thought it was?’ ” Khuri said, per local news outlet MLive.
Khuri told the outlet that he turned his car around to get a better look.
Ramez Khuri
“I slowly turned into the apartment complex, and there it was. An albino deer. It walked right in front of my car, turned and faced me for a few seconds, then headed across the parking lot before wandering into the bushes and disappearing,” he said.
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“I was thrilled to see it,” he added. “I take pics and videos of deer and other wildlife all the time. It has become a bit of a hobby for me. To capture something this rare and beautiful was an absolute privilege.”
Ramez Khuri
In an interview with Fox 2 Detroit, Khuri said the event was a first for him.
“I see a lot of deer in my neighborhood [and] in my backyard. I get deer all the time,” he said, adding, “But I’ve never seen a white one like that.”
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Albinism is a recessive genetic mutation that occurs when cells can’t produce melanin, the pigment needed for color in the skin, eyes and hair, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The condition typically presents as white fur or skin and pink eyes, and can be associated with several health issues, most notably vision problems.
The National Deer Association states that albinism occurs in about 1 in every 30,000 deer, by some estimates.
While hunting albino deer is prohibited in some states, it has been legal in Michigan since 2008, per CBS News.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ deer program specialist, Brent Rudolph, has stated that there is “no biological reason to protect the genetic trait that causes a deer to be all-white or albino,” despite public interest in the creatures, per the outlet.