Squirrel's white coat isn't such a bright idea

WITH its pure white coat and bright red eyes, it stands out like a sore thumb as it forages in city gardens.

The recent snowfall in the Capital offered a brief respite for this albino squirrel, giving it a rare chance to blend into the background.

The creature's lack of natural camouflage means it lives with the constant threat from predators, such as foxes, as it darts through gardens around Morningside and Craiglockhart. Wildlife experts are amazed that it has survived into adulthood, but sadly they are pessimistic about its prospects.

The squirrel was photographed in the garden of Scott Neil, general manager of ice hockey team the Edinburgh Capitals, who lives in the Meadowspot estate.

Mr Neil said yesterday: "I saw it for the first time this morning and was quite surprised. I've never seen one before. My daughter put out nuts for the birds a few days ago and since then a few grey squirrels have been down.

"It stands out from the rest, but doesn't seem to get treated any differently by other squirrels."

It is likely the albino squirrel's home is in the woods at Napier University's Craighouse Campus or in the conservation area between the campus and Craiglockhart.

There have been other sightings of an albino squirrel at the campus, as well as other parts of the south-west of the city. Edinburgh poet Juliet Wilson wrote on her blog recently how she spotted an albino at the nearby Union Canal at Craiglockhart "playing happily with an ordinary grey squirrel".

The Scottish Wildlife Trust said while the squirrel had done well to survive this long, its future was probably bleak. Trust spokeswoman Clara Govier said: "White squirrels are an oddity and the result of a rare combination of genes. They are attractive but their distinct colour can make them more of a target for predators.

"So this Morningside resident could have a more troubled future than its common grey siblings. It stands out – unless it's snowing."

A close shave for the squirrel shortly after it was spotted yesterday offered a sign of things to come. Mr Neil said: "I've just watched it being chased up a tree by a dog, but it got away in the nick of time."

In April 2005, an albino squirrel in Livingston lived long enough to breed and gave birth to another pure white squirrel.

Experts said at the time that it was likely to have been the first ever case of a second generation albino.

Specialists say the chances of a squirrel being born albino are about one in 100,000.