Sunday, August 29, 2010

The white deer of the Seneca Army Depot

I learned of the white deer living on the former Seneca Army Depot in upstate New York from a recent posting on the New York Outdoors Blog.

At first glance I thought that maybe the DNA of the deer had somehow been rearranged by a military nuclear accident of some type, but soon realized that white deer have been around since Native Americans have been around.

These are not albino deer, but are a natural variation of the white-tailed deer. This deer variant species thrived within the confines of the depot because they were protected from predators and hunters by the fence that surrounded the compound.

You can read more about these animals by clicking on the Seneca White Deer website, run by an organization that seeks to preserve the unique wildlife and military history of the old Army depot through conservation, ecotourism and economic development.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

4 comments:

SmallWorld at Home said...

I love this. My husband reads your blog and showed this to me. I grew up near the Seneca Army depot and always told him about the white deer, which I've seen a few times in my life. He always thought I was making it up because in the 20 years we'd been traveling back to NY to visit my family, he'd never seen one. Thanks for FINALLY convincing him!

Smoky Mountain Hiker said...

Cool! Glad I could be of service!!

Did you know that white buffalo exist as well (it's not just some made-up lyrics by Ted Nugent)? And, I think I saw a white squirrel once while riding my bike - but I only saw it - if that's what it was - for only a split second out of the corner of my eye.

Jeff

Daniel said...

There is a white squirrel that lives on the grounds of the Sam Houston Schoolhouse in Maryville, TN. The Sam Houston Schoolhouse is the preserved 1 room schoolhouse where Sam Houston taught before he moved to Texas. You might want to check it out sometime.

mamabug said...

Such beautiful animals; never have seen a white deer but have seen white squirrels and raccoons.