Rare white deer in Sparta

Sparta — Sparta neighbors Wendy Weiler, Allene Curd and Chaundra Maurizi saw something rare last Mother’s Day: a naturally colored brown white tail doe gave birth to two piebald fawns. The neighbors watched the fawns grow and the fawns became tame enough to hand feed. One fawn was pure white with a few thumb print sized brown spots on her back and a normal brown face. The other twin has the more traditional piebald coloring. “The white deer, also called piebald, is a genetic mutation common in the Green Road, Helen Morgan School and Sparta area,” said Fred Space of Space Farms Zoo and Museum. Piebald deer have white pigment where the hair color would normally be beige/brown. This mutation often has slightly shorter dwarfed legs, a Roman nose and a receding lower mandible. Piebald deer have brown eyes and patches of normal coloring, they are not albinos. “Piebalds do not survive long in the wild,” said Space. “They are easily seen by predators. The natural camouflage of a normal colored fawn protects it. That area of Sparta is developed and has less predators.” Tragedy struck on Tuesday, Nov. 17 when the all-white fawn was hit by a car. The three neighbors had kept track of the doe and piebald twins all summer. The Sparta women decided to give the young doe a special funeral. Anyone who sees a white deer is asked to contact Wendy Weiler at wendyweiler@gmail.com. Princess White Deer was a Native American of the Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois Nation. She dedicated the Lake Mohawk Sparta Area to posterity in 1927 in an official ceremony. The White Deer Plaza was named for this princess.