Should you find yourself near Utah's Red Pine Lake in the near future, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this strange inhabitant.
According to YouTuber Nick Carnahan, who uploaded the video, he was snacking on some lunch when the white squirrel came scampering past. He watched the animal for about an hour as it got busy digging holes and filling them with pine cones for the coming winter.
We can tell from the video that this isn’t a true albino squirrel, as some have reported (it lacks red eyes, indicating that it does have some pigment in its body), but as for the species, we can't be completely sure.
Although rarely seen, a number of squirrel species, including fox squirrels and western grey squirrels, have been seen with white fur over the years – and the lack of colouration makes them hard to differentiate. Our best guess is that this little guy is an American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), also known as the pine or spruce squirrel, which is the most common species in the area.
Interestingly, sightings like these are so infrequent in Utah that local lore has sprouted up around their existence. As superstition has it: find a white squirrel, land yourself a bit of good luck for the coming year.
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Top header image: Conrad Kuiper/Flickr
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