Everett and Susan Page weren't expecting a visitor to their Didsbury-area property last week ñ but that's exactly what they got in the form of an unusual looking white-tailed deer.
The animal, with a white face and other white colouring along its chest and legs, spent some time just outside the couple's back window, allowing Susan to take a few photos of the extraordinary animal.
Adam Mirus, a Sundre-Olds Fish and Wildlife officer, says although such unusual colouring ñ white-tailed deer are typically reddish-brown and grey-brown, except the tail and some white on the face ñ is not unheard of, it is certainly unusual.
"It's a whitetail, with albino qualities. Usually they will be all white, with a pink nose and blue eyes,î said Mirus.
"Normally they do not last long in the population as the white is contrast to summer months (making them vulnerable to predators and hunters). Some reports suggest that the pigmentation also will include lack of fertility; however there has been moose as albino who have borne calves.î
The Pages say the deer moved on after spending quite a time wandering around the yard.
