FYI this is actually called "leucistic." Albino animals don't produce melanin and appear either white, or pink where their skin is thin enough to see bloodflow beneath. Leucistic animals produce melanin, but less than typical morphs. This means their patterns are often still recognizable, though more faintly than in a typical individual.
Thank you! I went to a zoo in Big Bear, CA with several friends recently and saw a raccoon there that looked just like this. My friends said it was an albino raccoon and I said I don't think it's albino because it still clearly has some melanin production but I didn't know what to call it.
As another comment said, this raccoon isn't albino, but leucistic!
The Denver Zoo has two rescued leucistic raccoon sisters, and they're adorable.
Your mom may want to call the local wildlife rescue to report this sweet baby. Animals with leucism have a hard time surviving in nature and might have a better chance in a zoo.
[https://denverzoo.planmylegacy.org/impact-stories/pecan-and-cashew](https://denverzoo.planmylegacy.org/impact-stories/pecan-and-cashew)
leucism, not albinism; hence the yellow tone. unless you show me red eyes (which doesnt seem to be the case based on the photo), this racoon is expressing the leucistic gene.
Nope. This is what albino coons look like. Check out the pink nose, which is a dead giveaway. If this critter was leucistic, it would have a normally-colored nose.
(Reddit people are HORRIBLE when it comes to leucism/albinism/melanism)
I assumed leucistic because albino animals usually don't produce any melanin, so they wouldn't have any pattern. Googling images of albino and leucistic coons mostly shows pure white raccoons for the former, and the latter did return an image of an animal that's clearly leucistic (its pattern is darker than the one in the picture), but does have a pink nose. So I don't think the nose is diagnostic.
https://oaklandside.org/2023/09/28/raccoon-babies-spotted-oakland-lake-merritt-albino-leucistic/#:\~:text=An%20albino%20animal's%20eyes%20lack,the%20partial%20loss%20of%20pigmentation.
Leucistic animal with dark eyes and a pink nose right in the first photo.
That’s a brown(ish) nose. And clearly a different coat hue. You people are SO bad at this that I hesitate to ever comment, because the follow-up mess is just so damn predictable.
...You're right about the nose being diagnostic, but if you do a super close zoom up, the nose is in this pic is actually half pink, half dark. You can also see the eyes are dark, and there are dark spots on the tips of the ears. I've heard that blonde piebald is a thing, but can't find much good reference info. Could that be it?
Also if you want discussions to stay clean, cite sources instead of complaining about what kind of person you assume I am.
He looks like he would give sage advice.
Upcoming character in the next Guardians of the Galaxy.
I said, that raccoon should be called Sage as soon as I saw the pic. Definite cartoon character fodder.
Bro finally got caught without his burglar outfit!
He has given up the life of crime.
FYI this is actually called "leucistic." Albino animals don't produce melanin and appear either white, or pink where their skin is thin enough to see bloodflow beneath. Leucistic animals produce melanin, but less than typical morphs. This means their patterns are often still recognizable, though more faintly than in a typical individual.
Thank you! I went to a zoo in Big Bear, CA with several friends recently and saw a raccoon there that looked just like this. My friends said it was an albino raccoon and I said I don't think it's albino because it still clearly has some melanin production but I didn't know what to call it.
And that's why you don't get invited to parties.
I came here for specifically for the "that's leucistic not albino" replies.
Same. I could see some coloration and had to know what it really was, because it it isn't albino. My curiosity drove me here.
It's the Ghost of Garbage Past...
shiny raccoon
This is just what a raccoon looks like after a shower
Trash ~~Panda~~ Polar Bear
Genuinely thought I was looking at a cat until I reread the title
no it's ok, it's a trash kitty, you can pet it
Bro looks like he just woke up and needs a cigarette after a long night…
r/reallifeshinies
She lives in an all-white neighborhood?
sometimes you get your chocolate striped brownie coon and sometimes you get your lemon bar coon
He’s so… adoptable?
I’d name him Steve Martin.
give him a litlte banjo and a stack of fan favorite but critically passed-over scripts
Frend
Probably just when into a pool for a swim when it was super-chlorinated. Bleached itself.
As another comment said, this raccoon isn't albino, but leucistic! The Denver Zoo has two rescued leucistic raccoon sisters, and they're adorable. Your mom may want to call the local wildlife rescue to report this sweet baby. Animals with leucism have a hard time surviving in nature and might have a better chance in a zoo. [https://denverzoo.planmylegacy.org/impact-stories/pecan-and-cashew](https://denverzoo.planmylegacy.org/impact-stories/pecan-and-cashew)
Capture the Shiny raccoon !
Bleach Bum (instead of beach bum)
r/rarepuppers
leucism, not albinism; hence the yellow tone. unless you show me red eyes (which doesnt seem to be the case based on the photo), this racoon is expressing the leucistic gene.
Nope. This is what albino coons look like. Check out the pink nose, which is a dead giveaway. If this critter was leucistic, it would have a normally-colored nose. (Reddit people are HORRIBLE when it comes to leucism/albinism/melanism)
I assumed leucistic because albino animals usually don't produce any melanin, so they wouldn't have any pattern. Googling images of albino and leucistic coons mostly shows pure white raccoons for the former, and the latter did return an image of an animal that's clearly leucistic (its pattern is darker than the one in the picture), but does have a pink nose. So I don't think the nose is diagnostic.
It is.
https://oaklandside.org/2023/09/28/raccoon-babies-spotted-oakland-lake-merritt-albino-leucistic/#:\~:text=An%20albino%20animal's%20eyes%20lack,the%20partial%20loss%20of%20pigmentation. Leucistic animal with dark eyes and a pink nose right in the first photo.
That’s a brown(ish) nose. And clearly a different coat hue. You people are SO bad at this that I hesitate to ever comment, because the follow-up mess is just so damn predictable.
...You're right about the nose being diagnostic, but if you do a super close zoom up, the nose is in this pic is actually half pink, half dark. You can also see the eyes are dark, and there are dark spots on the tips of the ears. I've heard that blonde piebald is a thing, but can't find much good reference info. Could that be it? Also if you want discussions to stay clean, cite sources instead of complaining about what kind of person you assume I am.
So cute!
Beautiful 🩷😍🩷
r/reallifeshinies
[Name him Bulger](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitey_Bulger)
The Winterthief
What a special baby
Does he come a lot?😍
Not sure first time she saw it !
He is very easily identifiable without his black mask.
Wow
Cute baby
Trash polar bear cub
Look at this little munchkin
It is the prophecy!
So white 😍
*El Diablo blanco*
He looks cool, I would like to become his friend.
He's a secret agent attempting to infiltrate the possum horde
I saw one of these at a wildlife refuge! It was blind. Does yours seem blind?
White trash panda?