Hummel Park, which straddles White Lick Creek near Plainfield, has a unique denizen frolicking in its woods and meadows.
A rare piebald squirrel calls the 205-acre park in Guilford Township home. There is plenty of space there for the freckly white, brown and yellow fellow to romp and roam among the spring violets and dandelions. It’s the only white squirrel in the area, said park administrator Derek Clark.
Piebald is the common name for the genetic mutation known at leucism, said Brad Westrich, mammologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The trait is similar to albinism at one end of the spectrum or melanism at the other end.
The condition was given the name “piebald” when humans started manipulating the genes in more domesticated species like dogs and horses, Westrich said.
A variety of different animals can express the piebald trait, including wild fox, squirrel and deer, but Westrich said he’s also known it to appear in captive bred snakes, too.
The Hummel Park squirrel is rare, but its existence means its more likely for visitors to spot the trait in other squirrels there in the future. It’s likely to be passed along and expressed as unique markings in future generations.
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If visitors want to try and catch a glimpse of the piebald squirrel at Hummel Park, Westrich said, it’s best to do so at a distance.
“Squirrels can be very visual and curious individuals, and just like with any wildlife, give them space,” Westrich said. “Don’t feed them because fed animals lose fear of humans and we don’t want to cause that issue.”
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social.
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Piebald squirrel spotted near Indianapolis
