“I’m not sure what kind of raccoon this is,” 22News viewer

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A 22News viewer emailed videos of a raccoon that appears to be an abnormal color.

Arianna Escalante told 22News that she saw this raccoon for the first time on Easter morning. Well, it showed up again on Thursday morning sneaking around her backyard. “I’m not sure what kind of raccoon this is, but I’ve never seen one like it,” said Arianna, who lives on the Forest Park/East Longmeadow line.

Is this an albino raccoon?

22News contacted MassWildlife Assistant Direct Nicole McSweeney who said that this raccoon is not albino but appears to be leucistic. McSweeney said animals with light color with dark-colored eyes would be identified as leucistic.

She describes leucism as a wide range of partial pigment loss, resulting in white, pale or patchy (pied or piebald) coloration of the skin, hair, or feathers, but does not affect eye color.

In terms of albinism, it is the absence or reduction of the pigment melanin resulting in having pink eyes and skin, and appears pure white, or sometimes yellowish.

If you can safely take videos or photos of wildlife in your neighborhood, you can send them to reportit@wwlp.com !

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