Driving home from the York Parks and Recreation Pumpkin Hunt, one local family encountered something so unusual they didn’t even realize it existed.
The moment was rare, magical, and luckily preserved forever in photos.
The Kelley family, from York, Maine, was on their way back from the outing when 10-year-old Logan spotted a strange white shape near the roadside.
They pulled over, curious to see what it was, and soon uncovered a remarkable surprise.
A Rare White Creature Hidden In The Leaves
The odd white shape stood out sharply against the green foliage, making it impossible to ignore.
Snowy white and nestled among the branches, it 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,” the father, Neil Kelley, told The Dodo.
After a bit of research, they realized the animal was an albino porcupine, an extraordinarily rare discovery.
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, only about one in every 10,000 porcupines is born with albinism.
Porcupines are nocturnal, so the odds of encountering one in daylight are already low. Combine that with albinism, and this became an even rarer event.
“It wasn’t startled or alarmed. Very calm and poised,” said The Kelleys.
They observed the little animal steadily climbing up and down the tree, even reaching about 25 feet off the ground.
The Smithsonian’s National ZOO & Conservation Biology Institute notes that North American porcupines spend most of their time on the ground but are also skilled climbers. They regularly ascend trees while foraging for food.
In winter, their diet often includes evergreen needles and the inner bark of trees, which was likely what this porcupine was doing when spotted.
An Unforgettable Encounter For The Family
After a short while, the albino porcupine descended the tree and slipped away 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 completely mesmerized by the rare creature. It became an unforgettable memory for him.
The family mentioned they had once seen an albino deer in their own backyard, but never before had they come across an albino porcupine.
Though rare, this wasn’t the first time an albino porcupine was seen in York County.
A few months earlier, one had been spotted in Kennebunkport, a coastal town in southern Maine.
According to News Center Maine, a woman there came across an albino porcupine at the Seashore Trolley Museum. She described it as looking like a “throw pillow” and quickly recorded a video of the unusual animal.
Moments like these remind us of nature’s wonder. You never know when you might witness something so rare and beautiful that it stays with you for a lifetime.