A rare albino whitetail deer, often called the "Ghosts of the Forest," has been captured on a viral video in Wisconsin's Northwoods. The footage shows the striking white buck with a significant rack of antlers running across a road.
The video was shared on Instagram by user @joelord_wi, who expressed awe at the encounter, calling the animal a "majestic Unicorn." While the exact number of albino deer in Wisconsin is not known, it is estimated that one in every 30,000 white-tailed deer births results in an albino individual.
Albino whitetail deer are protected in Wisconsin. They are a rare sight, with encounters being uncommon even for those who spend considerable time outdoors in the state. One account estimates seeing an albino deer in person only once in a lifetime.
A similar albino red deer was photographed in Dyrehaven, a large public deer park north of Copenhagen, Denmark, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike wild populations, albino deer are sometimes more commonly observed in managed deer parks where they face fewer natural predators.
This sighting follows a trend of viral nature videos, with other recent clips including kangaroos boxing, bear cubs sparring, and a bobcat lunging at a teen hunter in Wisconsin. Another viral video compilation included unrelated moments such as a suspect losing his pants while fleeing police in Ohio and a bear attempting to open doors at a Tennessee cabin.