The White or Albino Moose

There have been a number of Albino Moose reportings over the years and certainly there are a number of photographs floating about on the internet to suggest these animals really do exist. But where are they? It would seem that every photo of these white moose on the net has someone different claiming they took the pictures. I suppose the origin of the pictures is not so important as, where can the average person see one of these beautiful rarities?

Snopes has posted a number of photos of the albino moose on their website, but even they are unsure of the origins of these pictures.

Photo from Creative Commons - Unknown Origin

What Others have Found

Snopes says about their pictures: It has been difficult in tracking down the origin of the photographs. The descriptions we have received regarding the pictures of the albino moose have placed these same moose in various places in the northern hemisphere. How is one to determine the actual origin?

In Timmins Ontario a regulation was passed to protect the white coloured moose [Albino Moose].
The Government of Ontario news release on March 22, 2006 states:

[T]he Folyet area of northeastern Ontario recognizes the cultural and spiritual significance of the white moose to First Nations and promotes local eco-tourism[.]

There seems to be a population of these moose near Timmins in the Chapleau and Foleyet forest districts. The white phased moose are not a separate species but belong to a declining genetic factor (Wikipedia: Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and is known to affect all vertebrates, including humans.)that occurs within the moose populace. The province of Ontario has placed a ban on harvest of the rare animals.

Quote from Ontario 2010 Moose Hunting Regulations: Note on White-Coloured Moose: The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, prohibits the hunting of moose that are over 50 per cent white coloured in Wildlife Management Units 30 and 31, an area near Timmins, Chapleau and Foleyet. This regulation does not affect the availability of moose validation tags for resident and non-resident hunters.

News:

2010 Vermont moose hunt went on as scheduled this year, as it has since 1993. Except for one, quite major anomaly... A teenage girl hunter harvested what appears to be an Albino Moose. The local wildlife biologists suggest the odds of coming across an albino moose are about 100,000:1. There are some areas of the USA and Canada that protect these rare moose from harvest but Vermont apparently is not one of them. It has been reported the moose had what appeared to be were pink eyes which would suggest the moose was indeed an albino not just a white-phase moose.

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A True Story

In 1974 a white moose was shot outside Fairbanks Alaska the hide was tanned and stored away. In 2005 the current owner of the hide decided to have it mounted. At first the taxidermist said, no way, it cannot be done. But after some rethinking and calculating decided it was worth the risk. As it turned out it was. The white moose now hangs in the Fairbanks Moose Lodge. If you want to read the amazing story of the hunt and how years later this white moose finally has a prominent place in the city please visit The Peninsula Clarion.

Keep Looking

These albino or white-phased have been reported in a number of states and provinces over many years. I would suggest if you are out moose hunting and you happen upon one of these rare beasts, you should dig deep and ask yourself if you can justify taking the life of such a rare animal. I cannot say if I would pass up an opportunity such as this. I bet there are plenty of arguments to go ahead and shoot (if they are unprotected in your area) and just as many opinions as to why not. I will leave you to be the judge.

Take Pictures

For heavens sake, take some pictures. Sightings of these animals are rare, if you are fortunate enough to see one of these majestic albino moose, be sure and take as many photographs as you can. Report your sighting to the local wildlife office and supply as much detail as possible.

In 2007 a couple walked into the Oran office with their digital camera. On the camera were several pictures of albino moose, supposedly taken in or near Margaree, Cape Breton. According to wildlife biologists of the area this would be a first there.

In Summary

You can see that these white moose can be found around the northern hemisphere including parts of Europe, I found some references to the fact that Sweden too had occasions of the rare albino moose or ALG as it is known there.

If you have some authentic and original albino moose pictures that we can post here, please use our contact us form.

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