Raccoons are pretty popular in North America. In fact, they are so popular that they’ve been captured in photographs and videos resulting in some becoming viral sensations.  But there is one raccoon that is actually quite rare- the albino raccoon. This unique raccoon has been spotted in Ontario which means that lucky Etobicoke residents may encounter one. Although it is far more likely that the animals which are responsible for most raccoon removal calls are the ones we see almost every day.

The Albino Raccoon

A genetic mutation causes albino raccoons to lose the traditional black and gray colour including the bandit strip across the eyes. This colour goes all the way down to their feet. Many people have never spotted one because they are pretty rare. In fact, a raccoon has a 1 in 10,000 chance of being born with albinism and your chance of seeing one is 1 in 750,000 – the same as your odds of being struck by lightning- and they are so rare that most people do not even know they exist. In fact, the first albino raccoon encounter is always a shocking experience for people, some of whom may even misidentify the animal as an opossum.

So if you spot a raccoon with all-white or off-white fur, treat it as you would when encountering any other raccoon. While uniqueness is prized among many human beings it is a problem for the albino raccoons because it helps to reduce their survival chances. Albino raccoons stand out due to the colour of their fur. This makes their survival chances lower as predators can spot them easily.

What You Should Know About the Albino Raccoon

Other than colour, albino raccoons are pretty much the same as the typical raccoon. They are wild animals, which means they are likely to carry diseases like rabies that make contact with them dangerous for human beings. Even if you are tempted to, don’t approach or feed albino raccoons. However, if you’re able to, you may snap a picture so you can share this rare moment with others. A few people have been able to do so.

Like other raccoons, albino raccoons are omnivorous and are opportunistic feeders. This means that there are very few things they won’t eat. Most of what you discard as garbage can be part of a raccoon’s meal. This means that your garbage bin will be a raccoon attractant and of course they’ll do whatever it takes to get to the feast that awaits them inside. This is why Etobicoke residents often wake up in the morning to find their bins trashed and garbage scattered all over the yard after a night of raccoon visits.

In their quest to find food, they will also intrude on your space if they get the chance. They will also cause damage to the inside of your home by chewing on internal parts and depositing waste material that encourages decay. It goes without saying therefore that raccoons, both albino and regular, are bad news when they get into your space.

If you spot an albino raccoon on your property, do not allow your fascination with the animal’s unique appearance to trick you into thinking it is safe to interact with it. Get in touch with a humane raccoon removal service to resolve the situation. Professional humane wildlife removers will ensure that the rare animal is not harmed during removal and is given the best chance of survival afterward. This is very important for an albino raccoon since the animals are so rare and already have lower than normal survival rates. Companies like Skedaddle offer efficient raccoon control services that will help you keep your Etobicoke property free of unwanted animals.