Neil Kelley and his family were out and about on a remote road in the Maine woods the other day when they observed someone in a nearby tree. He couldn’t help but stare at them.
Kelley told The Dodo, “This white hairy critter did not mix in with its surroundings.” “It would be tough to overlook it.” We had no idea what it was until we conducted some study.”
What the Kelleys didn’t realize at the time, however, was that the conspicuous animal was actually one most will never see.
The animal, it turns out, was an albino porcupine.
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, only 1 in 10,000 porcupines are born with albinism — making this little guy a truly rare sight. And, lucky for the Kelleys, he didn’t seem to mind being seen.
“[He] wasn’t startled or alarmed. Very calm and poised,” Kelley said.
After a short time, the all-white porcupine decided to climb down from his perch and venture deeper into the woods. Kelley and his family looked on as he disappeared peacefully out of view, perhaps never to be seen again by another person.
“It was on the edge of a very secluded wooded area,” Kelley said, adding that the encounter is one he and his family won’t soon forget: “[We] were surprised.”
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