Freak Deer

This picture is completely unmarked and of unknown origin. It is marked on the front "Freak deer -- Raiford, Fla".

Shown is a small deer that is white with brown speckles or spots that are normally referred to as "piebald".

Deer that inherit recessive genes of reduced pigment from both parents may appear to be nearly entirely white, but they may also be white only on parts of their bodies.

Less than 1% of white tail deer are piebald, but the proportion varies by location.

White and spotted deer are still found in Florida, for example:

• Spotted (Florida, 2008)--hunting trophy

As well as in other areas:

• Fawn (Ohio, 2002)--taxidermy specimen
• Piebald deer (Ohio, 2011)--wild.

So this vintage picture represents an older example of a piebald deer, a pattern becoming more common in some of the smaller and more inbred populations of white-tail deer.