There have been several sightings of a rare deer near Waterloo, Illinois in the last week.
An albino doe has been spotted wandering around town.
A dispatcher for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department told 5 On Your Side the deer has been the talk of the town and a lot of people want to get a glimpse of it.
A spokesperson from the Missouri Department of Conservation says some people believe albino deer are good luck.
“Many cultures view these animals as sacred, or bad luck to kill one….thus giving them a possible advantage among human predators. From a natural predator standpoint, it’s bad luck! A deer’s normal coloration has evolved to help camouflage and protect it in its environment from nature’s predators. A white deer stands out from the background which makes it easier prey to spot, so natural selection does not favor this coloration. An animal predator would just think “easy meal!” Plus albinos tend to have poor eyesight or other health issues, another hindrance to survival in the wild.“
