Uncovering the mystery behind white squirrel sightings in central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — White squirrels are once again catching the eyes and imaginations of people in central Ohio.

A recent traveler to Columbus sent NBC4 pictures of his encounter with the striking rodent in the Victorian Village area.

“I was visiting relatives at Harrison on 5th by Senior Star for about ten days and took our dog on several long walks a day through the beautiful neighborhood,” wrote Slawomir Siejka in an email to NBC4. “It’s a great area for walking, but the highlight was definitely seeing this beautiful white squirrel at about Fifth and Michigan. I had never seen one and kind of couldn’t believe my eyes at first.”

According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, most white squirrels in these sightings are, in reality, eastern gray squirrels. Ohio’s other species of squirrels, including the American red squirrel, fox squirrel, and the southern flying squirrel, can also be white or even black.

Wildlife Management Supervisor Gary Comer explained that when it comes to “squirrels that exhibit unique colors,” there are three genetic possibilities.

The first is albinism, which results in the absence of pigment in the skin, fur, and eyes, leading to a white appearance with pink or blue eyes. Estimates suggest a female gray squirrel has a 1 in 100,000 chance of giving birth to an albino offspring. The second is leucism, which causes a partial loss of pigment, resulting in a paler or whiter coat, but the eyes are usually dark. The third is melanism, where an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation in an organism results in a darker appearance. 

Many white squirrel images NBC4 has received over the years, like Siejka's, were taken around Victorian Village and Goodale Park. Comer revealed that there can be established “colonies” of white squirrels, either albino or leucistic, where these variations are more common. The traits of albinism or leucism are often found in pockets and many individuals can share a common ancestry.

“To some people, white squirrels are also known as mythological creatures that symbolize the coming of change and the need to prepare for it,” said Comer. “Or, they could be a symbol of good luck, mainly because you don't see them very often.”

These legends or folklore might seem prophetic to Siejka.

“I’ve just recently moved to the U.S. from Poland and sent the photos to my extended family in Gdynia — also very amazed!” Siejka told NBC4.

One other detail Comer shared was that white squirrels can be more vulnerable to predators due to their increased visibility. Exhibiting a stark contrast with their environment and potential vision deficiencies puts them at risk.

However uncommon white squirrels might be in the Buckeye State, finding out what squirrel is most prevalent might be even more surprising.

“The most common squirrel in Ohio, believe it or not, is the flying squirrel,” Comer said. “Most people are completely unaware of flying squirrels as they are nocturnal and almost all of their activity is at night.”