December 2, 2015

Cape Girardeau's big albino buck and other albino critters

A couple of Cape Girardeau readers submitted photos recently of the albino buck that has become a local celebrity. We've been receiving submitted photos of albino deer going back to 2008. We've also received a surprising amount of photos on other albino critters, including a humming bird, a turkey, a couple of catfish and even a groundhog.

Southeast Missourian readers

Nature photo columnist Aaron Horrell shot this albino groundhog in September of 2012. "This is the only albino groundhog I have ever seen. I watched as it ate vegetation on the opposite side of a woven metal fence about 100 yards away. As I contemplated how to approach the fence and animal for a decent photo, the groundhog suddenly decided to make a hasty escape. It slid under the fence and surprised me by running toward me. I photographed it as it ran across a well-mowed pasture going into trees nearby. I had unwittingly stopped close to this animal's den or place of safety."

This photo was taken by Susanne Schonhoff and submitted in June 2012. "Because of the albinos maladaptive traits, most of the hunters say there is no biological value in protecting them,....but then there is also the argument for the benefits of their aesthetic beauty that is so extraordinary. It should be a misdemeanor to harvest one. We know all about the science of recessive genes and the necessary fitness of the herd. Someday they could dissppear off the radar and fade from existence."

This photo was taken in July 2011, but submitted in Dec. 2011. "He is breathtaking. Please let him survive."

This photo was submitted by Tammy Kinder in November 2011. The albino doe was shot in the Daisy area. "Colton Kinder, 13 years old, of Daisy, Mo., shot this albino doe on Nov. 19 in the field behind his house. Colton is the son of Kirk and Tammy Kinder."

This photo of an albino buck was taken in Oct. 2011 by Susanne Schonhoff. "It was submitted by Susanne Schonhoff. "He is about 4 years old and should be able to mature into a true legend."

This photo was submitted by Cindy Yingling in May 2011. "Albino deer crossing Old Sprigg St."

This photo was submitted by Jay Hunze in July 2009; it was taken near Hopper Road. "The picture was taken with my brother's wildlife camera at night. The deer's eyes reflect the flash causing them to look white. Note that he is now a little over 1 year old and has 4 points."

This photo of an albino deer was taken in July of 2010 by Susanne Schonhoff

This photo was taken by Susanne Schonhoff in July 2010.

This photo of an albino fawn was submitted by Sarah Aydt in July 2010. "Has anyone seen this new albino baby deer? We took this on New Hopper Road 2 days ago. Is this a son - or sib - of the albino buck we've all come to know???"

This photo of an albino buck was submitted in November 2009 by David Ford.

This photo of an albino deer was taken in June 2009 by Carrie Perez. "Isn't he cute?"

View out my back window (User-submitted photo by Jackie T on Aug. 14, 2014)

Wanda Steffens submitted this photo of an albino deer in September of 2008 in the area of Hopper Road. "This white "albino" deer was seen running through our field just off Old Hopper Road on Sat. Sept. 20 at 8:30 AM. It was with the other group of 4 deer. (We saw this same white deer again last night, Sept. 22, across Old Hopper with a group of 8 other deer). A sight to behold!"

This photo of an albino House Finch was submitted by Tim Pensel in December of 2009

Tim Kincaid submitted this photo of an albino hummingbird in August of 2010.

This photo was submitted by Brayden Guffey. It was submitted in January 2010

This photo was submitted by Marty Fluegge in April 2012. "I caught this Albino Blue Catfish on Thursday, April 12, 2012 in the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau. It weighed 16 pounds. I had heard of albino blue catfish before but I had never seen anything like this until I caught one. The Conservation Office said that these fish are rare. I can't believe I caught this! Awesome!"

Katie OGuin submitted this photo of an albino catfish she caught in May 2009 at the conservation center.

Jay Hunze submitted this photo taken in Columbia, Mo., of a baby albino raccoon. "Here are two baby raccoons which showed up on my daughter's back steps in Columbia, MO. Note that one is an albino."

This photo of an albino turkey was submitted by Carrie Burgfield in July 2012. "... caught on 7/3/12 on Old Sprigg St in North Cape. It's from a phone at a distance, so it's not super-detailed, but you can clearly see this albino turkey."

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A white deer stands out among the herd of deer feeding in a field off of Lexington Avenue near Old Sprigg Street Road, Monday evening, Nov. 25, 2013, in Cape Girardeau.

Aaron Palmer submitted this photo of an albino buck in Cape Girardeau in November 2013.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A white buck is seen in a field off of Lexington Avenue near Old Sprigg Street Road in November 2011.

An albino deer photographed by Reg Swan in 2003 on Ann Wood in Cape Girardeau.

Jim Butler submitted this photo of an albino buck in November 2013 while walking his dogs at a local park.

An albino deer photographed by Reg Swan in 2003 on Ann Wood in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jerry Kinnaman holds up a 10 point, seven-year-old albino buck he shot with a bow and arrow just outside of Cape Girardeau's city limits, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jerry Kinnaman checks out the hooves of the 10 point, seven-year-old albino buck he shot with a bow and arrow, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, in Cape Girardeau County.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jerry Kinnaman holds up a 10 point, seven-year-old albino buck he shot with a bow and arrow just outside of Cape Girardeau's city limits, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

Brent A. King submitted this photo in March 2013 of what appears to be an albino deer. It was spotted off of Bertling Street between West End Blvd. and Huntington Ave.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jerry Kinnaman holds up a 10 point, seven-year-old albino buck he shot with a bow and arrow just outside of Cape Girardeau's city limits, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Fellow hunter Don Palmer checks out an albino buck after it was shot by a bow and arrow in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jerry Kinnaman holds up a 10 point, seven-year-old albino buck he shot with a bow and arrow just outside of Cape Girardeau's city limits, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

This is a photo submitted by Susanne Schonhoff in August 2012. "The albino bucks look magnificent in their white velvet headdress. This buck, which I call "Velvet", has always shed his velvet in mid-August the past 3 years, & sheds his antlers around Valentine's Day."

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Fellow hunter Don Palmer checks out an albino buck after it was shot by a bow and arrow in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An albino buck is harvested in Cape Girardeau County, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.

Aaron Palmer submitted this photo of an albino doe in Cape Girardeau in November 2015.

This photo was submitted by Susanne Schonhoff in August of 2012. "These fawns look like true albinos. Light blue eyes, pink nose, grey hooves. Took this pic on Old Sprigg Street Rd."

This photo was submitted by Susanne Schonhoff in July of 2012. "It was a magical moment watching this fawn & his twin as they kept encircling the albino buck,...gazing at him as if he were a ghost. The buck remained amazingly aloof at their presence."

This photo was submitted by Susanne Schonhoff in May 2012. "The extraordinary & unique enrich our lives & contribute to the complexity of nature. Biodiversity is the immune system of the natural world. Decimate it & you destroy the planets ability to survive change. Contact your legislature if you think the law should be changed to make it illegal to kill any Albino white-tail deer within the city limits of Cape Girardeau, or Cape County, or the state of Missouri. Why can't unusual rarities of nature be protected to be admired."

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A couple of Cape Girardeau readers submitted photos recently of the albino buck that has become a local celebrity. We've been receiving submitted photos of albino deer going back to 2008. We've also received a surprising amount of photos on other albino critters, including a humming bird, a turkey, a couple of catfish and even a groundhog.

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