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

Wow she is cool looking :cool:.

Yeah, I thought so too.

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

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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

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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.

That's just COOOOL!!! :D

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

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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

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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.

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

We have had a we around here they are highly sought after by most hunters(including myself). its very rare and unusual to see them it doesnt happen often. they are truly a georgous animal.

Eric

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

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.



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

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Sorry, maybe I should have said MOST predators have been killed.

The primary predator (excluding hunters) for deer are cars. More visable = less likely to be hit by a car.

Here we tend to call them calicos more than piebalds. Though usually its a sign of inbreeding in the population was what i was always taught.

how come dachshunds are called dapple but other animals are piebald?

Def not called piedbalds thats for sure.

Here i see maybe 1-2 a season which we call Albino Martins