Piebald spotted in the wild
On my lunch break today I noticed this little girl at the park. I didn't have my camera so I had to use my phone. I guess it's a piebald deer. I had never seen or heard of them before today. She was with a larger doe and a small buck.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...6757315952.jpg
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...6757316495.jpg
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Wow she is cool looking :cool:.
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
I've seen a couple of those around. I've wondered if, in a world where their primary predator (the Chevrolet?!) doesn't actually _want_ to kill them, a white deer might have a survival advantage.
She's a beauty, though!!
~Bruce
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrucenBruce
I've seen a couple of those around. I've wondered if, in a world where their primary predator (the Chevrolet?!) doesn't actually _want_ to kill them, a white deer might have a survival advantage.
She's a beauty, though!!
~Bruce
That is true I guess. Since we have pretty much killed all of their predators it might be better to be more visual. Just have to stay away from the hunters I guess. I do believe that Pied deers have some devlopmental deformaties though. I think I remeber reading that they have shorter legs and a few other things wrong with them.
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
We have a piebald deer in my town too, though he is a buck and he's about three-four years old now, oddly enough, he still hasn't grown his horns in, there still just spikes, and still hangs around with his mom...He must know he's special (since there's a lot of hunters in my town), because he has never left her side.
That female looks just like him :D
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrucenBruce
I've seen a couple of those around. I've wondered if, in a world where their primary predator (the Chevrolet?!) doesn't actually _want_ to kill them, a white deer might have a survival advantage.
She's a beauty, though!!
~Bruce
It could be an advantage if A) the mutation is affecting other genes in a positive way, increasing vigor or B) Females are predisposed to mating with piebald males increasing fitness of the male piebald and therefore of the piebald gene.
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Piebald deer do happen but are usually found in privately owned animals where selective breeding can occur. Hunting could be a problem since the coats are so beautiful, my home state protects white deer but I don't know if piebalds fall into the same protection
Re: Piebald spotted in the wild
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrucenBruce
I've seen a couple of those around. I've wondered if, in a world where their primary predator (the Chevrolet?!) doesn't actually _want_ to kill them, a white deer might have a survival advantage.
She's a beauty, though!!
~Bruce
Sounds very doubtful. I don't know what would trigger an animal fighting for survival to not take an animal because of its coat color.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pfan151
That is true I guess. Since we have pretty much killed all of their predators it might be better to be more visual. Just have to stay away from the hunters I guess. I do believe that Pied deers have some devlopmental deformaties though. I think I remeber reading that they have shorter legs and a few other things wrong with them.
I hope you're kidding. First of all, not all predators are killed - well, I don't know where you live, but there are plenty of deer killed everyday by wild animals in the United States. Also, how would it benefit the animal to be more visual if there weren't any predators? :confused:
Later, Matt
