White Squirrels

In May 2003 a baby albino squirrel, Persil and his grey brother Daz, were accidentally knocked out of a Surrey tree by two boys playing football. The squirrels were dazed but otherwise alright and were taken to London Wildcare Centre by a member of the public. And that's how it all began....

With your help, BBC southern counties decided to look into just how many white squirrels live in Surrey and Sussex and we were very surprised by the results.

There must be something in the air round here as we seem to have more than our fair share of these beautiful rare animals!

• FACT: The odds against a pure white squirrel being born are 1 in 100,000.

• FACT: Albinism is due to gene mutations that affect the production of pigmentation. True albino animals lack melanin and are white with no markings and with unpigmented pink eyes. In some species there is also a form known as blue-eyed (or partial) albinism.

• FACT: Squirrels, white or otherwise, do not make good pets and it is illegal under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to take any animal from the wild without meaning to return it once fit.

• FACT: White squirrels in the UK, although rare, often live in small albino colonies, so if you see one, the chances are there are others nearby.

• FACT: As white squirrels are true albinos, they do not see or hear as well as other squirrels. This makes them easier for predators, to catch and kill. Dogs, cats, foxes and birds of prey are all likely to harm white squirrels.

• FACT: A baby squirrel weighs approximately one ounce at birth, and is about one inch long. They do not have hair or teeth, and are virtually blind for the first six to eight weeks.

• FACT: It is possible to find melanistic (black) squirrels in the UK as well, but these along with the albino variety are rare.

• FACT: In Illinois, USA there is a State Law which says it is unlawful for any person to take white squirrels in the state at any time.