In July alone we spotted the blonde raccoon on Saysutshun 4 times. It might be the same one or there might be more than one blonde raccoon on the island, we don't know. This phenomenon is the same as the spirit bear up north. The raccoon is not albino (lacking the red eyes) but it is a recessive gene that seems to be more common on Saysutshun than many other places. The striking colouring occurs when two adults mate that don't carry the gene responsible for the production of black pigment; 25% of the time, those parents produce blond offspring. Pretty much the same as humans having the recessive gene for blue eyes.
Other than their colour the raccoon behaves and interacts pretty much the same as any other raccoons. She(?) even seems to have normal coloured offspring. We mostly spot the blond raccoon at a low tide on the NW side of the island at Saltery Beach. Quite the local celebrity!!!
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David Aquino
6/12/2024 03:06:31 pm
The blonde raccoon in the photo is named Blondie. She is eight years old and has had 12 cubs, one of which was blonde. She is the only adult blonde raccoon that lives in the Saltery Beach area. I have seen four blonde cubs there over the past seven years.
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AuthorRichard Römer likes to roam around on Vancouver Island and creates exceptional adventures on Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada Archives
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