Albino Groundhog Spotted At Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

LOCKPORT, IL — An albino groundhog was spotted and photographed at the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve. Paul Sevcik was able to take some shots of the unusual creature, the Forest Preserve District of Will County said.

"I saw this white object along the edge of some tall grass and I stopped to take some photos of it," Sevcik said in a release.

He said that after he took the shots, it slowly walked back into the grass.

According to the preserve, in North America, approximately 300 species of animals have some instances of albinism, a genetic condition that results in a lack of pigment. While the condition is more common in birds, it's rarer in mammals where researchers estimate it occurs only about once in every 10,000 births.

"Albinism may not affect survivorship or reproductive success at all or it could be very problematic depending on the species," said Dave Robson, the Forest Preserve District's natural resource management supervisor. "For animals that rely on their coloration pattern to provide camouflage from predators, small mammals for example, being white makes them stand out and easily spotted."

The albino groundhog's condition may not mean it will meet an early death, the preserve said.
One of the key defense mechanisms for a groundhog is staying near their burrow. They also can run fast — up to 10 mph — for short distances.

"Perhaps the biggest challenge albinism might impose on an animal is poor eyesight, a crucial sense for most," Robson said in a release. "Albinism is known to often result in poor eyesight which obviously places that animal at a disadvantage."

Sevcik said he was at Lockport Prairie for about 10 minutes when he spotted the groundhog.

"I live about four miles from the prairie and visit when I can find some spare time to do so," he said in a release.