Rare Albino Pronghorn Spotting In Wyoming

The superstitious among us will see this as a good sign of things to come.

An albino pronghorn was spotted in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.

Jessica Korhut is a ranger with the BLM out of the Buffalo, Wyoming office.

While patrolling, she came across what she thought was something else.

But then she realized what she was seeing.

Albinism is a rare genetic condition caused by mutations, or changes, of certain genes that affect the amount of melanin your body produces.

Melanin controls the pigmentation (color) of skin, eyes, and hair.

People with albinism typically exhibit notably pale skin, eyes, and hair.

It can happen in all species of animals.

Albino pronghorn are extremely rare, they do exist, and sightings and hunts of these animals have been documented.

These animals, like other albinos, have a lack of pigmentation, resulting in a white or very pale coat.

But maybe they are not true albino in the purest sense.

While they are often referred to as albinos, some reports suggest they may be better described as having isabellinism, a genetic anomaly that results in a washed-out, sandy or cream-colored pelage.

Hunters seek out albino pronghorn due to their rarity and the unique experience of hunting such an animal.

A strange side note, while researching this, I found that some hunter video games have albino pronghorn as a rare treat for those gamer hunters.

So, what do you do if you see one in the wild in Wyoming?

Perhaps take some pictures and make a wish.