Rare Albino Racoon Spotted in Cleveland Metroparks is 1-in-20,000

A rare albino raccoon, one in 20,000, was seen in Ohio's Cleveland Metroparks.

When exploring the Cleveland Metroparks, a variety of creatures can be seen.

But a woman from Olmsted Falls noticed something rare.

Rare Albino Raccoon in Cleveland Metroparks

Tammy Stevens came and saw what seems to be an albino raccoon over the weekend while running through Berea's Metroparks bridal trails.

Stevens posted this encounter to social media, with a clever analogy between Santa Claus and albino raccoons.

Stevens claimed that she felt as though she had proven the existence of unicorns.

She eventually gave the Rocky River Nature Center access to the pictures. The center acknowledged the rarity of the albino raccoon sighting.

Only one in twenty thousand raccoons, according to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, are born with albinism.

In 2016, the museum gained some hands-on experience with the animal when a newborn albino raccoon was discovered inside an Ashland factory and later adopted by the institution.

The inability to create melanin, which is the pigment found in hair, skin, and eyes, is what distinguishes albinism from other hereditary conditions, according to the museum.

Albino Raccoons

After a young albino raccoon was discovered inside an Ashland factory and later adopted by the museum, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History gained some hands-on contact with the animal in 2016.

They named the raccoon Meeko.

Later on that day, they found Meeko, who was just a few days old and in need of assistance. It was obvious that Meeko's mother disapproved of him.

Meeko was brought to a wildlife rehabilitation facility to be raised by hand.

The juvenile raccoon became too tame to be sent back into the wild since he had imprinted with humans.

Recently, albino raccoon sightings have been recorded by a few TEGNA sister stations.

An albino raccoon was captured near Lindale, Texas, in 2022.

A year ago, a pair of albino raccoons were discovered in the backyard of a house in West Knoxville, Tennessee, WKYC Studios reported.

Pitfalls of Albinism

Albino raccoons are identical to regular raccoons except for their color.

However, due to genetic changes in their bodies, albino raccoons frequently experience severe health problems.

Albino raccoons are uncommon; thus, it is recommended to choose expert removal if they pose a risk to a home, advised Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Any wild animal would prefer not to be an albino.

Albino animals frequently experience rejection from their kind, are more vulnerable to predators owing to their inability to blend in, and have impaired vision, which makes it more challenging for them to find food and stay safe, Cleveland Museum of Natural History reported.

While the normal raccoon in the wild can survive to be about three years old, most albinos are not as fortunate.

Because of health issues or because they become prey, most white-pigmented raccoons will not make it past their first year of life.

Albino raccoons have trouble hiding due to their white fur, poor camouflage, and pink eyes and nose. Raccoons that are albino must locate safe spaces where they can effectively evade predators.

Raccoons, particularly albinos, are susceptible to serious risks from malnutrition.

Albinos need to keep up balanced eating habits due to underlying health difficulties caused by their genetic abnormalities, even though many of these foragers may thrive on a slightly diverse diet, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control reported.