Pacer Times

Issue date: 11/28/06 Section: News

There is a new edition to the USC Aiken family this year. Students, faculty, staff and visitors are all waiting to get a glimpse of the albino squirrel that is roaming around campus.
According to John Cumbee, maintenance supervisor on campus, an albino squirrel started making appearances this semester at USCA. Cumbee has been taking pictures of the unique squirrel and trying to keep up with it ever since he first saw it. Cumbee said, "The albino squirrel only hangs out in front of the B&E building on campus and seems to get along with the other squirrels."

Albino animals usually appear to have white or pink skin/fur and pink eyes. This is due to the fact that albino animals are missing the metabolic pathways in the cells that produce the pigment melanin. Melanin is what gives humans and animals color in their skin, eyes, hair and even scales.

Albinism in squirrels is very rare. It is estimated that about one in every 100,000 squirrels are albino.

The albino squirrel could reproduce more albino squirrels if it breeds with the correct mate. According to Dr. Hugh Hanlin, a biology professor at USCA, it all depends on if the albino squirrel reproduces with a squirrel who is a carrier for albinism.

To explain this we will use these three possible genotypes for pigmentation:

Homozygous wild type (normal gray squirrel) = A/A (dominant/dominant)

Homozygous mutant (albino squirrel) = a/a (recessive/recessive)

Heterozygous (normal gray squirrel) = A/a (dominant/recessive)

Heterozygous squirrels carry a recessive trait for albinism. If a heterozygous squirrel reproduces with another heterozygous squirrel then there will be a 25% chance of another albino squirrel being born. This is most likely how our albino squirrel was born.

If the albino squirrel on campus reproduces with a heterozygous squirrel then the chances of an albino squirrel being born will increase to 50%. "If this albino squirrel makes it to reproductive age and successfully mates then there is a good chance after a few years, we will see more albino squirrels on or around campus," Hanlin said.

Albino squirrels do have a less likely chance of survival because of their bright white fur. They noticeably stand out against the dark colored tree trunks and grass covered in pine straw and brown leaves. "The hawk on campus does not help out the chances of survival for the squirrel either," Cumbee said.
Students who have not seen the albino squirrel can posssibly spot it in the quad in front of the B& E building a couple of hours before sunset during this time of year.

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