Seneca White Deer

Nature 4 Minutes

Even some of the most ardent deer enthusiasts and hunters have never heard of the Seneca white deer herd. This unique group of deer boasts a beautiful white coat that makes it notable throughout the world. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this mysterious herd.

The History of the Seneca White Deer Herd

The Seneca white deer herd’s history stretches back to 1941. Humans were inadvertently instrumental in the creation of this unique group of deer.

In 1941, New York’s Seneca Army Depot in Seneca County enclosed 10,600 acres to create a compound where since then, we’ve seen this herd’s development.

A fence positioned around the compound trapped in a deer population, keeping it separate from other deer in the area. This fence stretched 24 miles, and it was high enough that the deer inside the compound weren’t able to jump over.  While the compound’s number of deer was small at the beginning, it has obviously grown exponentially since then.

Some of the original deer on the compound carried recessive genes that create all-white coats. As inbreeding became common in this deer population, white coats became common. The white coat genes got stronger and stronger as time passed.

Some people believe the Seneca white deer herd is made up of albino deer, but this isn’t true. Leucism, not albinism, causes the white coat that is so common in this herd, and the white deer in the Seneca herd are actually leucistic deer.

The Seneca White Deer Herd is a Leucistic Deer Herd

The gene for leucism means that the deer’s fur doesn’t have any pigmentation. While deer usually have a coat in a shade of brown, deer with leucism lack the pigmentation to create that kind of coat.

That is why their coats are completely white. While leucism is a recessive gene, constant inbreeding in the Seneca white deer herd over several decades has made this herd mostly white-coated.

Are Seneca White Deer Always Completely White?

While deer with leucism, such as the ones in the Seneca white deer herd, are usually completely white, there can be some variations. For example, a leucistic deer may be only primarily white, with other markings. Even completely white leucistic deer still have a black nose.

Leucism vs Albinism

One difference between a leucistic deer and an albino deer is that the albino deer has pink eyes. Leucistic deer like the ones in the Seneca white deer herd, on the other hand, have brown eyes like any other deer. Albinism is much rarer than leucism.

Overall, deer with leucism are healthier than albino deer. That is why leucistic deer tend to enjoy longer lives than deer with the albino trait.  One major disadvantage of any kind of white deer, however, is their difficulty with camouflaging themselves and hiding from predators in the wild.  Of course, this herd is protected, so they don’t have this challenge – a fact which may help to explain how the deer became more and more white over time.

Other Facts About the Seneca White Deer Herd

The fact the deer herd on the former Seneca Army Depot had become overwhelmingly white-coated was first noticed in the 1950s.  That was when the United States Army decided to keep this deer herd intact and protected.

It was in 2000 that this property ceased being an army depot. It was transformed into Seneca White Deer, Inc., which is a conversation park devoted to the herd.  The property also holds a Cold War Museum. Without question, the Seneca white deer herd preserve is a unique wildlife park with a fascinating heritage.

How is the Seneca White Deer Herd Doing Today?

The Seneca white deer herd is still thriving. However, the White Deer Tour program officially ended in 2019.  The Seneca White Deer, Inc., organization and Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ Finger Lakes Institute have established a special scholarship fund in honor of the herd and its preservation.

This herd is found in New York State towns called Varick and Romulus. They’re in the Finger Lakes Region. The preserve spans an impressive 3,000 acres. Its deer herd is the largest herd of deer with visible leucism on the planet.

Are There Health Problems Associated with White-Coated Deer?

Remember that leucism is a recessive trait. Like many other such traits, it only becomes prevalent when there is inbreeding.  And inbreeding, in turn, is linked to many potential health problems. That is why a deer with leucism is more likely to have certain health problems than a deer without this condition. Some problems commonly linked to leucism in animals include birth defects, such as a cleft palate and cross eyes.

Myths and Legends About White-Coated Deer

The recessive leucism gene exists in deer all over the world, so leucistic white deer do pop up in populations outside of the Seneca herd.

That is why we see the symbolism of white deer in myths and cultures around the globe.

For example, there are white-coated deer in Asian, European, and Native American stories. We see white deer treated as magical creatures in European mythology.

Are White Deer an Endangered Species?

No, white deer aren’t an endangered species of deer. They aren’t actually a species separate from regular deer.  White deer are the same species as the other deer in your area, but they have either leucism or albinism.

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Published by pat frederick

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170 thoughts on “Seneca White Deer”

    1. You are a good and loving wife! He is so blessed to have you.

      Have you all tried Dr. Zelenko’s antiviral regimen?

      He used Quercetin + Zinc + D3 – and I always take it with green and/or black tea with lemon and local honey.

      Heck, when I really feel a virus coming on – I add Hydroxychloroquine, prescribed by my doctor that I keep on hand to fight virus colds, and I even Ivermectin paste on hand just in case – it’s available over the counter.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. hubby takes a blood thinner because he has a pacemaker. when i went to purchase the ivermectin/hydroxy stuff on line, you have to check a box that says the patient isn’t taking anything like coumadin or wayfarin. the one he takes isn’t specifically any of those, but it’s a blood thinner so im not sure if he can take it so I haven’t ordered it yet….

        he is using the QZD protocol but this is more asthma related than anything right now.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Oh, my – blood thinners are blood thinners, regardless of the patent name. My a-Mom was on Coumadin for many years and I think it contributed to how big the blood clot in her brain was when she had her stroke – it was a massive bleed! You also have to be wary of certain food items as well, from what I understand. Something about leafy greens – IDR exactly what it was but along those lines.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. his cardiologist specifically picked this one as she thought it would be better for him. all his arteries and such were beautiful she said…no blockages, no plaque…nothing. this was a recommendation from the surgeon who installed the pacemaker. it works differently than coumadin and is a lot less likely to cause significant events.
            my dad was on coumadin and had to have monthly blood tests…hubby does not.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Of course you already know everything I posted but….well, you know me! LOL….the whole thing did bring up an old memory, tho, about a guy – I’ll never forget the asswipe’s name, Wayne Ford – I worked for/with in the early 80’s who had a heart bypass and was on blood thinners. That’s when I heard about the lettuce, then my Mom reiterated it once, too. I think that was the first time I knew anything about blood thinners.

              Liked by 1 person

        2. Oh man – so sorry to hear of all the side issues he’s dealing with. Sending blessings and prayers for a Christmas miracle – healing and restoration!

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Morning, Pat! Interesting about the white deer but somehow, the Finger Lakes region always brings Hunter Biden to my mind since it’s the first time I’d ever heard of it….the tattoo on his back. That sucks for hubby and you since it obviously disturbs your sleep too. Has he ever tried, or has it been recommended to try, a CPAP mechanism? I wonder if something like that would help….or maybe nebulizer treatments? They helped Mom when she had Covid.

      Doing a bit of research – this is probably old news but I have to try to help…one item on Healthline: “As important as it is to find a sleeping position that works for you, it’s also important to rule out sleep positions that could make your asthma symptoms worse.

      Sleeping on your right side, which is also called the right lateral decubitus, position, can make asthma symptoms worse. In 1990, researchers concluded that sleeping on the right side increases resistance in the airways of your lungs as you breathe in and out during the night. This was based on the theory that sleeping on your right side may increase vagal tone, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system that results in airway constriction. However, it doesn’t apply to everyone, so those with asthma should experiment to see what works for them.

      You may also want to avoid sleeping on your stomach. While some people find stomach sleeping to be comforting, this position does not allow free airflow into your lungs while you’re asleep. Sleeping flat on your back without any elevation from pillows behind your neck and shoulders may also make your symptoms worse.”

      Then there is this from a COPD website: “Eat foods high in magnesium and/or Vitamin B complex. Magnesium and vitamin B can be natural sleep aids, so eating foods that contain them, especially at dinner time, can be helpful. Magnesium containing foods include: halibut, almonds, cashews, bananas and spinach. Vitamin B containing foods include: leafy greens, nuts and legumes.”

      Well, the weather report said we would have thick fog during the night – got up and looked out at around 1 am – nope, not a bit of fog, and none now either – barely freezing at 30. Wheezer showed up w/in 5 minutes after turning on my interior light and putting his food out. Then he sat at the door and looked at me, didn’t eat, just looked at me…ok, ok, some petting time is warranted. LOL – after that he chowed down and went back out on the prowl.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        thanks for all this info. hubby sleeps mainly on his left side. he never slept on his stomach–nor have i–that would seem uncomfortable to me.

        he refuses to talk about a cpap machine–i have brought it up before.

        is a nebulizer something i get from the doctor? that he might be willing to try!

        our temps have been hovering at 30*…not warm enough to melt the dang snow, but still no further precipitation at the moment either.

        Wheezer loves you!

        Liked by 1 person

        2. Good Morning!
          Nebulizer is how the daughters have found relief when their asthma is acting up…when they were young we had to take them to Dr.s office. These days hey have their own machines.

          Liked by 2 people

  9. Feisty Hayseed
    December 23, 2023 1:21 am

    Migrants at NYC’s Floyd Bennett Field are begging for money, food at furious locals’ doorsteps: ‘Invasion’

    “There’s definitely an invasion of immigrants from Floyd Bennett Field in our neighborhood and I see them sitting outside stores … outside the mall and going around to all the houses in the neighborhood, knocking on the door looking for money,” the retiree said.

    “I certainly sympathize with their situation, but to have people knocking at your door looking for food that don’t speak English, it’s annoying. I don’t like it. We have never had this before, ever,” he continued.

    Paul Sanzone, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, said migrants now knock on his door on a “regular basis.”

    “I am all for charity, 100%. I’ll give you the shirt off my back, the money in my pocket, but not this way. It has got to stop,” Sanzone, 56, said.

    He said he and his wife had been “on edge” ever since two people who recently came looking for food and money were wearing what appeared to be ankle monitors.

    “It’s alarming,” he said.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/migrants-at-nyc-s-floyd-bennett-field-are-begging-for-money-food-at-furious-locals-doorsteps-invasion/ar-AA1lV2tc

    Liked by 1 person

  11. article from American Thinker. Maine was set to vote on an ev mandate like CA, when a winter storm hit knocking out power…assholes.

    As Maine bureaucrats prepared to vote on a ‘sweeping EV mandate’ an act of God weather event struck, creating widespread outages
    By Olivia Murray

    Although I (or we) wouldn’t have it any other way, being a constitutionally-devoted American can often feel like quite the heavy burden, but when all of the mainstream narrative is a contrived clown world, free-thinking patriots are blessed to have the gift of recognizing the silliness, and pointing it out for a good laugh. Get a load of this, reported by Fox News yesterday:

    A top Maine state environmental agency delayed a highly-anticipated vote to approve a sweeping electric vehicle (EV) mandate amid a storm that caused widespread power outages.

    The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) announced that it had indefinitely postponed the meeting, which was slated for Thursday afternoon, until further notice following the storm. Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who has pursued an aggressive green energy agenda, declared a state of emergency this week, an action that closed state government offices.

    ‘Governor Janet Mills declared a State of Civil Emergency for 14 Maine counties following a significant wind and rain storm that has left hundreds of thousands of people without power and that has caused significant flooding and infrastructure damage, including to town and state roadways,’ the Maine BEP said in a statement.

    As the unelected bureaucrats fixed to gather for a “highly-anticipated” vote to usher in an E.V. mandate à la Gavin Newsom and his California cronies, an act of God weather event struck, knocking out power to a significant portion of Maine residents… in the winter… with below-freezing temperatures. Although “act of God” is appropriate given its use as a secular legal phrase, such divine poeticism—a storm knocking out the electric grid as government parasites make their move for electric vehicle mandates—gives the storm an obvious double meaning. As one X user asked:

    How do you mandate something without the appropriate infrastructure in place?

    It’s almost as if they want things to fail.

    And, when that brutal storm hit and that electric grid failed, what do you think those Mainers did? Well, they pulled out their generators, fueled by gas and diesel, and stayed warm, while waiting for their power to be restored. As Maine Democrat Rep. Jared Golden even noted, via Fox:

    ‘Forcing Mainers to purchase cars and trucks powered by electricity when our grid is insufficient, charging stations are few and far between, and a storm like yesterday’s would render 80% of cars useless is, to say the least, ill-advised.’

    Maine greenies? You might want to listen to what this gentleman has to say about your ideas, lest you reaffirm your status as useful idiots we think you are:

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/12/as_maine_bureaucrats_prepared_to_vote_on_a_sweeping_ev_mandate_an_act_of_god_weather_event_struck_creating_widespread_outages.html

    Liked by 1 person

  12. this is the face of the GA lawyer who stole $7 Million in PPE loans to buy a rolls royce and a 10 carat diamond ring.

    FTA
    These false statements were pivotal in swindling the PPP loans that she would later utilize to fund a lavish lifestyle, which included the purchase of a Rolls-Royce and a 10-carat diamond ring for $148,000, as well as significant money transfers to her relatives and accomplice.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/democrat-lawyer-found-guilty-7-million-covid-relief/

    Like

  18. “George Santos Gets New Job As Fact-Checker At The New York Times”
    MEDIA · Dec 22, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    NEW YORK, NY — Embattled former New York Congressman George Santos has landed on his feet following his ouster from the U.S. House of Representatives, with the announcement that he has been hired as a fact-checker at The New York Times.

    “There’s no one more qualified for this job than George Santos,” said Garrett Bradley, a spokesman for the newspaper. “We at The New York Times, as we have throughout the history of our proud publication, prioritize truth, transparency, and honesty in reporting the news and keeping the public well-informed. Adding a former congressman who has a reputation for trustworthiness and integrity is a no-brainer.”

    Santos had been embroiled in controversy for months, drawing criticism from members of both parties before being officially expelled from Congress. He expressed relief at not being unemployed for long. “This is a dream come true,” Santos said about the new job. “Working for The New York Times is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a young child growing up in the Pridelands of Southern Africa. Unfortunately, my father, Mufasa, was killed in a horrible accident, dashing my hopes of working as a fact-checker at a major newspaper. Today, I’ve come full circle!”

    At publishing time, Santos had already been fired from his new position for accidentally printing something factual.”

    Liked by 1 person

  19. “God Agrees To Spare D.C. From Destruction If He Finds Just 10 Staffers Without A Gay Sex Tape”
    POLITICS · Dec 22, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — With news of still more lewd U.S. Congress incidents circulating, a local man reported a mysterious encounter he had in which God agreed to spare the nation’s capital from divine destruction if He finds just 10 congressional staffers who have not filmed a gay sex tape in the Capitol building.

    “He still seemed pretty confident He’d be breaking out the fire and brimstone,” said Abe Oldman, the man who claimed to have spoken with God. “I was standing outside my house, thinking about how crazy things were getting in this city when I noticed what appeared to be three men walking toward me. I had my wife fix them a light snack while I talked to them. One of them, who I felt strongly was the embodiment of God Himself, commanded the other two men to continue walking toward D.C.”

    What happened next, according to Oldman, could only be described as a negotiation for the very fate of the entire city. “He said he was going to completely destroy the whole town,” Abe said. “I asked him ‘What if there are 50 decent congressional staffers there?’ and He answered me ‘If there are 50 decent ones, I’ll spare the place.’ I kept trying to negotiate. I went down to 45, then 40, then 30, then 20. He kept saying he’d let D.C. off the hook if there were that many staffers with no gay sex tape. Eventually, with my final plea, I got Him to agree to spare the place if He could find just 10 staffers with no gay sex tape.”

    At publishing time, Oldman didn’t have high hopes for the outcome. “Yeah, turns out there probably aren’t even 10 non-gay-sex-tape staffers,” he said. “He’s totally going to roast the place.”

    Liked by 1 person

  20. fyi…hubby is napping on the sofa. basically sitting straight up, he can breathe easier and can nap. not a good position long term though–he needs to elevate his feet sometimes during the day. but i think this is also partially why he doesn’t sleep thru the night–he naps during the day when he can.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. before Thanksgiving when we got the flu, he used to drink a glass of wine at night and i think that helped him sleep. he stopped doing that when he started taking some cold medicine, but he’s over the cold basically–it’s just his asthma is aggravated. gonna try a glass of wine tonight

        Liked by 1 person

    2. OK – one more and then I’ll move on…the nebulizer REALLY helped my Mom when she had COVID. It’s just like putting your head over a pot of boiling water with a towel over your head….Grandpa Walton!!!! ROFL

      Liked by 1 person

      1. i do that–well almost–I put a cup of water in the microwave to boil, then instead of making tea, i just breathe in the steam…
        i mention these things to him and he says he will try them, but then doesn’t

        Liked by 1 person

  31. “The New York Post reported today that a Catholic women’s college in Indiana has reversed its decision to allow transgender applicants following a month of backlash — admitting it “lost people’s trust and unintentionally created division” even as the university president defended the inclusion policy. It must have come down to the fact that trans women might become nuns and terrorize the convent? Who knows…”

    https://nypost.com/2023/12/22/news/catholic-womens-college-reverses-decision-to-allow-transgender-applicants/

    Liked by 1 person

  36. President Trump floats some names for his Defense Sect…
    entire article
    Former President Donald Trump on Friday discussed his potential pick to lead the Department of Defense should he reclaim the White House in 2024.

    Trump’s first defense secretary was James Mattis, who departed in 2019 and was replaced by Mark Esper, who in turn left in 2020. Christopher Miller then held the post in an acting capacity for the remainder of the administration.

    Speaking on the “Hugh Hewitt Show” on Friday, Trump praised Miller, saying “I thought he was really good. I thought he was very good.”

    Trump brought up Miller in response to Hewitt’s queries on a potential Pentagon leader in a second Trump administration.

    “You’re going to need a secretary of Defense. You had four of them. Now I’ve named a bunch of people,” Hewitt said. “[Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom] Cotton would be good. [Former Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo would be good. [Former National Security Advisor Robert] O’Brien would be good. [Florida GOP Rep.] Mike Waltz would be good. [Wisconsin GOP Rep. Mike] Gallagher would. Have you got, will you put out a list of people that you will put into the cabinet?”

    “Yeah, that’s a good list to start off with. That’s, what you just said is a good list to start off with. We have, it’s such an important position. You know, we had Miller at the end who did a very good job,” Trump replied.

    https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/trump-hints-choice-lead-defense-department-should-he-return-white-house

    Liked by 1 person

          1. Hell, I’d have at least taken it off for a little while, then put it back on again. Gotta at least try it out, woman!!! WTH is wrong with you?!?!😁😁😁😂😂🤣🤣😉😉

            Liked by 1 person

  42. i moved the last of the firewood out of the truck. Christmas Day we have to take the truck to the mechanic’s garage in town–he will start working on it the following morning bright and early.

    we have a good stack of firewood in the basement for now.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. On Xmas Day? Wow! Kind of unusual! Just ran out to the local grocery store to p/u some yogurt and creamer. 1/2&1/2 and sugar just aren’t cutting it in my coffee! Downtown is completely deserted and only 1 other person at the store. My neighbor to the west is having a family get together today – cars/trucks lining their road. Our sunshine has gone away, clouds moved in and a strong wind has come up but at least its from the south. Starting to get a light mist but it’s still 51. I expect that will start dropping faster now. Got my notice from the gov w/my new SS amount – increase of $45/mo, which will help a little bit at least.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. well the appointment is for December 26th but he likes to start as soon as he gets in so we always take our vehicles in the afternoon before. and this way too we can call my mom and our kids and be able to wish them a Merry Christmas–our phones work in town

        Liked by 1 person

      1. No, I did the first few years I lived here but I skipped to just lights around the front door and some Christmas plaques that were my Moms in the windows for a while. I also put out some statues and stuff inside, including a manger display. The last few years I haven’t done anything.

        Liked by 1 person

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