Piebald deer a rare sight in the Flathead
A piebald whitetail deer fawn photographed earlier this month on private property. (Avery Howe photo)
The piebald fawn interacts with another whitetail of similar age.
The piebald fawn ventures out into an open field. (Avery Howe photo)
The piebald attempts to nurse from its mother. (Avery Howe photo)
Brown speckles and blue eyes make this piebald whitetail not quite a true albino. (Avery Howe photo)
The piebald fawn interacts with another whitetail of similar age.
Hungry Horse News photographer Avery Howe recently photographed a nearly-all white whitetail deer, known as a piebald deer.
The deer was not true albino, as it did have some brown markings and blue eyes. True albinos are pure white with pink eyes. It was a fawn, located on private property.
Howe said the deer was somewhat tame and still trying to nurse. It even approached her vehicle at one point.
Albinism in animals is rare, it’s estimated that about one in 1,000 deer are piebald, and albinism is even rarer than that — perhaps 1 in 30,000 deer.
Still, over the years the 
The piebald fawn interacts with another whitetail of similar age.
Hungry Horse News has noted or photographed several albino or piebald animals.
On at least two occasions in the past 20 years the Hungry Horse News has had stories and photos of albino bears. In 2007, a hunter shot an albino black bear on Teakettle Mountain. In 2009, an albino black bear was caught by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and then released in Glacier National Park so it wouldn’t be shot by hunters.
In 2018, the Hungry Horse News had a story about an albino fawn that was photographed up the North Fork.
The Hungry Horse News chose not to release the photos of this year’s deer until after general hunting season to protect it. It also chose not to release the whereabouts of the deer.
The piebald fawn ventures out into an open field. (Avery Howe photo)
The piebald attempts to nurse from its mother. (Avery Howe photo)
Brown speckles and blue eyes make this piebald whitetail not quite a true albino. (Avery Howe photo)