                        |
New Hampshire Trappers Association Furbearers
Albino
Critter Project
When
an animal is an albino the skin is light and milky, the hair is white,
and the eyes are pink. All of these conditions are caused as a result of
the pigment that gives the color, not being present in that individual.
These animals are born this way, as it is genetic though rare. It is far
more common to have an animal of an expected coloration be a variant
color. Such an animal might be a white mink, coon, squirrel etc but with
black eyes. There are pockets or areas where furbearing animals are
consistently non-typical. This most certainly has to do with genetic
pools of animals where non-typical coloration becomes more typical. And
in all probability the localized habitat, which offers some subtle
variation in trace nutrients may play a part. In the Rocky Mountains we
have cinnamon colored black bears, Wyoming produces blond beaver, many
areas have a strain of mink, which have local color differences. The
Porcupine is not a furbearer of significant value although it has both
under fur and guard hair the same as the more traditional animals valued
for their pelt. The guard hair on a porcupine is the hollow prickly
quill for which they are best known. Native Americans use significant
quantities of quills in various crafts. The hide with the quills removed
but the under fur remaining is utilized to make the headgear referred to
as a roach headdress. Should you harvest a non-typical specimen or have a collection of non-typical colored furbearers we would like to see your pictures here. Information as to when and where the animals were taken will best advance any benefit this effort might offer those who would study such peculiarities. If you have pictures of non-typicals you have harvested in the past, make a new catch of such a unique animal, or have a collection of such animals already tanned, please consider sharing your pictures on this page. Go to the Contact NHTA button at the sidebar and let us know what you have available.
The links on this page should prove useful when
researching information about specific furbearers. Furbearer Guide
at Conserve Wildlife |
