While driving home from the York Parks and Recreation Pumpkin Hunt, a local family in Maine encountered something so extraordinary that they couldn’t quite believe their eyes.
The moment was magical and rare, and fortunately, it was captured in photos for them to cherish forever.
On their way back from the event, 10-year-old Logan Kelley noticed a strange white shape near the roadside. Curious, the family decided to stop and investigate, and what they uncovered was nothing short of remarkable.
A Rare White Creature Among The Branches
The unusual white shape stood out starkly against the surrounding greenery, making it impossible to overlook.
Snowy white and nestled among the branches, the creature immediately caught the attention of everyone in the car.
“This white furry creature did not blend in with its surroundings. It would be difficult to miss. We didn’t know what it was until we researched,” Neil Kelley, the family’s father, told The Dodo.
After doing some research, they learned that the animal was an albino porcupine, a discovery they soon realized was incredibly rare.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife explains that only about one in every 10,000 porcupines is born with albinism.
Porcupines are nocturnal creatures, so the chance of spotting one during daylight is already slim. Adding albinism to the mix made this encounter even rarer.
“It wasn’t startled or alarmed. Very calm and poised,” said The Kelleys.
They watched the porcupine, which steadily climbed up and down the tree, even reaching heights of about 25 feet.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute explains that while North American porcupines spend most of their time on the ground, they are skilled climbers and often ascend trees in search of food.
In the winter, their diet consists mainly of evergreen needles and the inner bark of trees, which was likely what this albino porcupine was foraging for when the family spotted it.
An Unforgettable Memory For The Family
After a few minutes, the albino porcupine descended the tree and vanished into the woods, disappearing from sight.
“It was on the edge of a very secluded wooded area. We were surprised,” Kelley told The Dodo.
Logan, just 10 years old, was in awe of the rare animal. The encounter became a moment he would never forget.
While the family had previously seen an albino deer in their backyard, they had never before come across an albino porcupine.
Though unusual, this was not the first time an albino porcupine had been spotted in York County.
A few months earlier, one had been seen in Kennebunkport, a coastal town in southern Maine. According to News Center Maine, a woman spotted an albino porcupine at the Seashore Trolley Museum. She described the animal as looking like a “throw pillow” and quickly recorded a video of the rare sight.
Encounters like this serve as a beautiful reminder of nature’s wonders. You never know when you might come across something so rare and enchanting that it stays with you for a lifetime.