What is a piebald white-tailed deer?

A piebald white-tailed deer is a brown deer with white spots. Piebald spots are unpigmented spots on the skin of the deer. They may have one large spot, several small ones, a mere smattering, or be mostly white with their natural brown sneaking in.

Piebald white-tailed deer are a rare occurrence. Their specific coloring and behavior have fascinated people for years, and they have been the subject of much scientific study. The term “piebald” has its roots in the distinctive coloring of magpies. It’s used to describe animals that have unpigmented spots on a pigmented background. In the case of piebald white-tailed deer, this manifests as white spots on a brown or reddish-brown coat.

Is piebaldism a genetic defect?

It is. Piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the congenital absence of melanocytes in affected areas. The disorder can show in skin and hair due to c-kit gene mutations. The embryo is affected long before birth.

Why is it called piebald?

In Old English, piebald meant bold, fearless, or intrepid. Then in Middle or medieval English, “pied” suggested contrasting colors comprising the quarters of livery, costume, jester, or minstrel outfits. It originally comes from “magpie” and “bald” (white spot), referring to the black-and-white magpie. (i.e. the “bald” eagle has a white head.)

How does piebald compare to albino, leucistic, and melanistic?

We’ve discussed piebald coloration above. In comparison, albino white-tailed deer are completely without pigment (all white, or an off-white yellow), and have pinkish-red eyes. Leucistic white-tailed deer are all white and have blue (or other color) eyes. Melanistic white-tailed deer are all black because instead of little or no pigment, they’re heavily pigmented. And yet, genetically, none have anything to do with the other. Each condition represents less than 2% of the population in the wild.

What does that mean?

Albinism is a condition inherited from recessive gene alleles and related to the severe reduction in melanin production. In other words, it’s a genetic condition that didn’t pass on any color. In contrast, leucism, also caused by recessive alleles, is recognized by reduced pigmentation through a reduction in all skin pigment types.

Piebaldism, seen as irregular patches of white, is simply partial leucism.

Is piebaldism in white-tailed deer gender-based?

Actually, it’s not. Males and females are affected equally. It’s dependent on genes, as stated above. If both parents are piebald, they’re more likely to have piebald offspring.

Is piebaldism in white-tailed deer due to inbreeding?

Piebaldism isn’t from inbreeding. Because it’s a dominant gene, offspring born from a piebald deer bred to a brown deer has a 50/50 chance of being piebald. If a fawn is born with a white fur outline around an eye, the eyes are often blue, but if it has brown fur around the eye, the eyes are usually brown.

Regular deer colors have better antler development, but piebald deer attract a bigger crowd. Bigger crowds may build awareness for protecting the piebald and albino deer.

How rare is a piebald white-tailed deer?

The piebald white-tailed deer trait may show as often as 1 in 1000, but albinism is only 1 in 30,000 white-tailed deer. That said, if you’re looking to sell the entire deer or just the pelt, you’re unlikely to get any more money than you do for a regular white-tailed deer.

On the other hand, some markets will bring a good price for a living piebald fawn, and bucks are worth more than does. But the piebaldism must be more than a small mark. Full mottling brings a higher price.

Still, you’ll need to know your location.

In Tennessee, it’s illegal to trap, hunt, or possess a true albino deer. It’s considered a Class B misdemeanor and comes with a $500 fine. But is it illegal to hunt a piebald white-tailed deer? According to Gerry Bethge of Outdoorlife.com, “Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin prohibit killing albino deer and Iowa goes so far as to protect deer that are 50 percent or more white.”

According to Wisconsin’s 2020-2021 hunting guide, it’s illegal to possess or kill an albino or leucistic deer. 

Can you breed piebald white-tailed deer?

You can try. However, Reading Eagle says, “all attempted matings of two piebald deer have failed to produce offspring.”

Also, you don’t get a piebald deer by mating an albino deer and a regular color deer. It’s a different genetic makeup.

There’s more. Piebald white-tailed deer often have other abnormalities that regular colors don’t usually suffer from. These include internal organ malformations, deviated limb joints, spine curvature, shorter legs, and even dorsal nose bowing. Piebald deer can breed with regular color deer and produce both piebald and regular fawns. But the piebald offspring are more likely to manifest or carry deformative genes.

Is hunting piebald white-tailed deer popular?

Sort of. They are more easily seen because of the white mottling, rather than their normal brown color. It makes them easier prey. However, only just over half of the polled hunters would shoot an albino deer if legal, as shown by a February 2019 poll by the National Deer Alliance. That said, since albino, leucistic, and piebald white-tailed deer are so rare, hunters consider them trophies.

Yet, protecting such seldom-seen and intriguing creatures could show the importance of wildlife and their habitats.

What is the lifespan of a piebald white-tailed deer?

Male white-tailed deer have a lifespan of about six years and females of eight. While the genetic abnormalities of a piebald may not affect life span, physical deformities can make them more susceptible to predators. 

What is the symbolism of white-tailed deer?

Piebald deer were considered spiritual embodiment passing to or from the spirit world by Indian tribes. Seeing one meant that change was coming. 

Do hunters believe in legends, myths, and symbolism? 

Of those from the above poll taken by the National Deer Alliance, 90% replied that superstitions wouldn’t keep them from their trophy. Since just over half would shoot the deer and most of them aren’t superstitious, that still leaves half the hunters taking a rare trophy if legal.

Still, legends, myths, and symbolism are cultural. Depending on culture or location, different beliefs may be observed. However, these are commonly associated with the albino stag or doe, rather than the piebald white-tailed deer specifically. 

The white color exemplifies purity, innocence, and altruism. In contrast, piebald color represents fearlessness, boldness, and in the Native American culture, change.

Austrian legends and myths that say killing a white deer will bring the hunter bad luck or even the death of a family member.

But it still doesn’t tell us if killing a piebald one is bad luck. Should we really take the chance?

Some superstitious hunters believe that killing a piebald deer can bring bad fortune. Others believe it will curse the hunter. Some even believe that simply spotting a piebald deer can cause poor hunting or bad luck. A few Europeans believe that killing a piebald deer brings death to the hunter within a year.

Celtic Legend

The white stag in King Arthur’s legend was likely piebald. That would have meant the animal would have had brown or black eyes, rather than blue (leucistic) or pinkish-red (albino). 

Hungarian Legend

The white stag is significant to the Hun and Magyar people as a catalyst for settling in Scythia. In fact, the stag in general has ancient and endless significance for the Hungarian people. They even saw the stag as the “carrier of the sun.”

Japanese Legend

According to Shinto beliefs, deer were considered “sacred messengers of the gods.” Like the Chinese, the Japanese see the white deer as a sign of longevity.

The Tail-End

The piebald, white-tailed deer is often a motley of white splotches on the brown-colored canvas of the deer. Their coloring may increase superstition or simple popularity. But conservationists want to increase awareness for the albino, leucistic and piebald deer around us. If we can help the deer through increased cultural portrayal and beliefs, the world will have one more creature of beauty to admire. The question is if we view this wildlife from its natural habitat or hanging from our wall.

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One of the rarest types of raccoon colorations is a piebald raccoon. The piebald raccoon is a light colored almost white raccoon but still has some coloration in its fur. This coloration can affect part or all of the raccoon’s fur color.

According to Wikipedia the “bald” part of piebald refers to the white coloration of the animal, like the bald eagle. Unlike other animals that have patches of what appears to be albino or white sections of fur or skin a piebald raccoon takes on a more gray or white coloration.

Albino and Piebald Raccoons

Although a raccoon may appear to be albino or partially albino when they are piebald, this coloration is usually not connected to the same issue that causes albinism.

You can tell based on the coloration of the eyes of the animal if it has albinism which are usually red in color. They also have a pink or skin color nose instead of usual a black nose (Wikipedia Piebaldism).

In piebald colored animals the eye coloration is normal colored, for raccoons that is black. The normal nose color for raccoons is also black.

The fur and skin coloration in raccoons that are piebald are lightly colored due to a disorder where the pigment is not produced in high quantities and causes the raccoon to look light in color.

The melon or the pigment in the fur and skin is dormant due to a low number of cells that produce this pigment or is produced in low quantities.

Piebald raccoons are usually can be white, blond, or gray in color and have some streaks of darker fur.

Black Piebald Raccoon

Because a normal colored raccoon is usually black, white, and gray, this variation will be extremely hard to spot because it would look like a slightly darker or different fur pattern of a already dark colored raccoon and would probably take further testing to verify.

Some raccoons may have melanism which is where they produce extra melon or pigmentation and causes them to be black and not have the normal color variations.

Difference Between Piebald and Normal Raccoon Colors

A normal raccoon has dark black mask on its face usually surrounded by white patches and may range from black to a red brown color. Raccoons usually have dark gray and light brown striped tails and black and gray fur.

As explained earlier in this article differences are stark in the coloration differences unlike the black piebald raccoon. A very light colors in a piebald raccoon makes them stand out and my be one of the reasons piebald raccoons are not seen very often.

A light colored raccoon my stand out in the woods and not allows them to have a better camoflash. This will make them easier to spot by predators such as coyotes and humans, and cause them to be more of a target. Thus natural selection will allow less piebald raccoons to breed and not pass along the mutated genes to more generations of raccoons.

How Rare Are Piebald Raccoons?

Piebald raccoons are super rare and hard to even find images of online. I personally have never seen one and some people seem to believe they are more rare than albino raccoons.

Anyway, this coloration in raccoons is extremely rare. One animal control operator was able to catch one on a job and had it mounted because he had never seen one before after catching thousands of raccoons. I found this story on facebook.

So if you ever get the chance to see a piebald raccoon remember you have a potential once in a lifetime opportunity.

The post Piebald Raccoon and What they look like? appeared first on Albino Dino.

What is a piebald ball python?

A ball or royal python is a snake native to West and Central Africa. They’re called ball pythons because they curl up into a ball when they’re nervous. And they’re called royal pythons because the African rulers wore them like jewelry. Who needs precious metals anyway?

A piebald, or pied, python is a type of leucistic morph. Leucism is an albino with dark eyes instead of red. The colors, or lack thereof, are a recessive genetic anomaly that, like albinism, happens to two percent or less of all animals in the wild. However, morphed or abnormal (unique) color ball pythons are becoming more common as they’re bred in captivity.

What’s the difference between a piebald ball python and a normal one?

A piebald ball python has white splotches interspersed with color. You might even call it calico. Let’s check out the other main morphs. 

Albinism is a total lack of melanin, leaving the ball python all white with red eyes. A leucistic ball python is all (or almost all) white with blue or dark-colored eyes. Then we skip over the average color to the melanistic morph, which is all black. Of course, normal or average is subjective. Hundreds of individual scale designs exist in the ball python world, each with a different value and cost.

How much does a piebald ball python cost? 

A typical color ball python costs about $50 for a baby or juvenile – if they’re a common color. Piebald python babies and juveniles start at $300. The initial setup runs around $350, and the annual cost of owning one is about $150. Normal color adult ball pythons often cost between $150 – $500 but specially bred piebald pythons may empty your wallet of $800 or more. Newer, unseen colors can clear $7,000.

The most expensive ball python ever sold was an ivory ball python, and the breeder, Peter Kahl, sold the first one for $125,000. Now you can find one for as little as $150. Sort of like electronics. The more common an item is, the more affordable it becomes.

Why are piebald ball pythons so expensive?

The newer and more rare the color, the more you can charge. Piebald ball pythons aren’t as common as a standard color, so they’re worth twice as much or more. Even so, the newest reptile scale designs always top the cost of a piebald ball python.

Where can you find a piebald ball python?

You won’t find a piebald ball python at your local Petco or Petsmart. You can find a regular color, even an albino, at a chain store like that but go to a reptile shop for a specialty color. Plus, you’ll find a knowledgeable retailer to help you make an informed choice.

Are piebald ball pythons venomous?

Not only are ball pythons not venomous, but they’re also very docile. The chance of a piebald ball python biting you is relatively low.

What are a piebald ball python’s lifestyle, lifespan, and size?

This incredible creature can have an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years but can live up to 40 years in a few cases. They can grow up to six feet and weigh as much as nine pounds. The female is often 40% larger than the male.

They’re primarily crepuscular, meaning they’re most active around dusk and dawn but otherwise remain nocturnal. These quiet, docile creatures make wonderful pets for those preferring a reptile, and many owners keep their piebald ball pythons with them while working on the computer, watching TV, and even sleeping.

How do you care for a piebald ball python?

Your ball python may be low maintenance but still requires the basics for optimal health. Here are some tips to keep your pet at its best.

Enclosures

Your piebald ball python needs a large tank. Babies can live in a 20-gallon tank, but you need a 60-gallon tank for juveniles and adults. It’s best to purchase the large enclosure the first time. Make sure the tank is longer than it is tall.

Water

Ball pythons need clean, fresh water in a bowl big enough to soak in. Replace with fresh water daily. Or add a moving water feature for a drinking option and a large bowl to soak in.

Hiding places

Add in hides, or hiding places, for your ball python. Make sure you have at least three. Place one hide in the heated area, one in the cool area, and one in the humid area. Humidity can help your snake with shedding, a stressful and uncomfortable process. Hides should be large enough for your snake to fit its entire body. The humid hide should be placed somewhat warmer than the air temperature.

Substrate

In your pet’s enclosure, you’ll need to provide a substrate. The substrate is the bottom layer or substance. Ball pythons can use tropical soil mix, cypress mulch, orchid bark, newspaper or paper towels, coconut fiber, or aspen mulch. 

• Although newspaper is inexpensive, it requires frequent replacement, and it could be more pleasing to the eye.
• Bark chips like orchid, fir, coconut, or beech are beautiful, suitable for humidity, and help with shedding. But your piebald ball python can ingest it with food and burrowing. Bark chips can create an impacted bowel in the snake’s digestive tract, so keep the substrate layer thin. An impacted bowel means that their feces are stuck in their intensines. It can be very painful for the snake and an expensive vet visit for your. Spot checks for quick cleaning work here.
• Cypress mulch is pretty and good for ball pythons because it’s absorbent and helps keep the right temperature and humidity level. It can get stuck in the snake’s nose or mouth. If you use this option, check your pet regularly for obstruction.
• Mix it with fir bark or cypress mulch when opting for sphagnum moss. Spray it sometimes to keep the moss moist.
• Aspen shavings clump easily when wet for prompt notice and simple cleaning. But your ball python may ingest the shavings or get them stuck in its mouth. If using this option, let your piebald ball python compress the substrate before feeding the snake. Watch for mold, and change aspen shavings monthly.
• Coconut fiber is another ingestion problem. However, it’s soft and clumps well, so it’s beneficial for humidity. Still, it can create a dusty mess and get stuck in the snake’s nose and mouth. Again, check your pet often for obstruction.
• A tropical soil mix is probably the best choice for humidity. You can create your own combination with 70% topsoil, 10% coco fiber, 10% peat moss, and 10% sand. 

Your choice of ideal substrate depends on where you live and the location’s humidity levels. Humidity should stay between 55% to 80%. Glass terrariums should have a solid covering to maintain even moisture. Check your substrate for bugs or other pests. You can even bake or boil your underlayer for sanitation and safety.

Keep your piebald ball python’s substrate between two to seven inches. A smaller compacted base is enough, but deeper helps the humidity in larger environments. Besides spot cleaning, change the tank every month or so.

Lighting & Temperature

Keep your piebald ball pythons between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your heater to one side to allow the snake to thermoregulate. This gives them the option to choose how warm or cold they want to be. Use ceramic emitters, day and night heat bulbs, undertank(UT) heaters, or heat tanks. Keep UT heaters outside the tank. Add a barrier between glass and heater to protect ball pythons from too much heat. Basking locations are at 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid heated rocks or things that can burn the python.

What do I feed my piebald ball python?

Stick with frozen mice and rats when you feed your piebald ball python. Ball pythons like routine in their daily life, including their dietary needs. You want to use something affordable and available consistently. Babies start with smaller mice and move up as they grow. Switch to rats early for consistency and proper feeding when your ball python is large enough to eat one.

Because ball pythons can be fickle over food, sometimes you may need to tempt them with a live mouse or rat, if you can manage it. This may get your snake eating again, but try to stick with freshly thawed rats. 

Never use a microwave to thaw the rodent. Pythons want their food as fresh and raw as possible. Warming it slowly to body temperature is preferable. Put the rodent in a sealed bag and under a heat lamp or in hot water to warm it.

Feed your pet once every two weeks. Adult piebald ball pythons will eat one to three rats per feeding, but no more. Babies will eat once a week.

Handling

After your piebald ball python has acclimated to its new environment, handle them weekly in ten-minute intervals at first. Give them a month to adjust and then build up to daily handling. Support your snake with both hands.

Diseases

Piebald ball pythons can carry Salmonella or deal with mites and ticks, mouth rot, or respiratory infections. Keep their enclosure clean and change it regularly to maintain health. Take them to a vet annually for their checkups.

What’s the difference between a male and a female? 

Females are larger at (5ft) five feet and grow faster, reaching full size in 24-36 months. Males stay small, only growing to (3ft) three feet, and reach sexual maturity sooner at 12-18 months. Babies start at 10-14 inches. 

Call an expert or watch a video for proper instruction to determine the sex of your piebald ball python. Probing may be informative, but it can be dangerous for your snake. So ensure you’re very careful and do it correctly without injuring your pet.

How do you breed a piebald ball python? 

Size

Your breeding piebald ball pythons should be old enough and big enough. The female should be at least three years old, and it’s better if they weigh at least 60 ounces for optimal health. The male should weigh at least 24.7 ounces and be a minimum of a year in age. If a little pressure on the vent at the back of the snake (the cloaca) produces a white, cheesy substance (sperm plug), then you know the male is ready.

In Africa, clutches hatch in tortoise or rodent burrows during the breeding season, occurring from November to January. Then the eggs are laid in February. In captivity, breeding can occur year-round. You’ll need to prepare your snake’s temperature for three months before breeding. 

Temperature

Keep the night temperature in the mid-70s and the warm spot in the cage at night in the mid to low 80s. During the day, the temperature should maintain the high 80s. It copies their natural habitat in Central Africa and tells their instincts it’s time to breed.

During this time, you’ll want to introduce your snakes to each other. Bring them together for a few days, then apart for a few more, and back and forth. Although they may attempt breeding, success will happen later – not right now.

After a few months of cooling them off, warm them up again. Your piebald ball python likes warmer temperatures.

Excitement

If your male needs some extra stimulation, introduce him to several males. Twenty minutes around the guys have them ready to get happy with a girl. Then, put him back with the girl and leave them alone. 

Copulation

When mating, piebald ball pythons lock together in copulation for up to two days. If breeding a male more than once, he’ll need a week at least before he can do it again. Keep bringing them together for mating until you see the outline of eggs inside her.

The female can take even longer to use all that sperm. It can stay viable for two whole years in her body. 

Nesting

Get her a big box with damp moss. She lays her eggs clutch, or nest of eggs, laying 3-14 eggs at a time. Then she incubates them for two months by wrapping herself around them to maintain 86-88 Fahrenheit. She won’t eat at all during this time. However, you can remove the eggs and incubate them at a constant 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave your incubation container alone, checking weekly only.

If incubating, you may need to wash the egg smell from your female to convince her to eat.

Hatching

After 55-60 days, the young start to emerge. Babies can take up to 24 hours to break out of their shells. Then they’re on their own and living off the energy from the egg for up to ten days. After that, they’re ready to transition to mice and rats.

The tail end

You and your piebald ball python can enjoy a fulfilling familial bond for decades. Whether you choose to breed your pet or not, the relationship you create can be worth the initial and annual cost of maintaining your ball python. In addition, understanding their personality can enrich your life with their calming presence.

Your piebald ball python is special and unique, worthy of a long and caring relationship for many years to come.

Do you know how you catch a unique ball python? You-nique up on it!

This is a piebald ball python. that means that it is partially albino in coloring and the other part normal coloration.

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