NEWAYGO, Mich. — Pure Michigan — where creatures come in every shape and size.
But for Bob Meyer, Newaygo resident and avid hiker, it seems some come in different colors, too.
“I like the fresh air,” he said. “It's a chance to, you know, explore and kind of contemplate in your brain."
He was on a business trip with his wife in Brighton when he made the one in 100,000 sighting.
While venturing to a new spot, a spot of white ventured to him.
“At first I thought it was a cat," he said.
“It was the color that really drew it out. I was really excited. I was fumbling for my camera. I was trying to make sure that I had proof that I saw it.”
After a bit of searching, he did get proof — proof of a rare albino squirrel just feet in front of him.
“You hear about these videos of like, albino deer and stuff halfway across the country. It's like, oh, that's neat. But you know… This stuff's real," he laughed.
So real, in fact, it made much more than Bob smile.
“Seeing photos of these kinds of mysteries tends to be the highlight of our days," said Rachel Leightner with the Michigan DNR.
She sees all sorts of unique animal photos sent to her department. Albino squirrel footage, she said, comes about once a month statewide.
“You notice a stark white animal that's moving through the woods," she said, “they are pretty eye-catching.”
While Bob captured just a few seconds of video, Rachel says it's years of a lifetime for that squirrel.
“It's definitely harder for it to stay alive," she said. “Because you notice them, most times predators will pick off those animals pretty easily."
"That's actually why we don't see this genetic mutation present very often is because those animals don't really survive to have reproduction, or multiple breeding seasons,” Rachel explained.
“It's lucky to have made it this far."
This makes Bob’s discovery that much more squirrelly.
“It feels almost maybe once in a lifetime, hopefully, more than that," Bob laughed. “Even though it's rare, it is possible, you know, it'll find you or it won't.”
Soon, Pure Michigan will be blanketed in white. It's an uncomfortable time for many creatures.
Unlike Bob’s new friend, who will finally fit in.
“That's one unique little critter,” smiled Rachel.
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