An albino squirrel eating a nut. Photo taken by Tim Dunahee Photography.
The albino squirrel, a purely white squirrel with red eyes that seem to stare into your soul, has turned the city of Olney, Ill., into a tourist stop. This special squirrel is a cross between two gray squirrels that both carry the recessive white gene.
To preserve the white squirrel population, they are counted annually at the White Squirrel Count. For the first three Saturdays in October, volunteers can offer to help count on one of the 35 different routes. These volunteers don’t just count the number of albino squirrels; they also count the number of gray squirrels, fox squirrels and stray cats. These animals all contribute to the albino population. One of the groups that help volunteer is the Olney FFA Chapter.
“I enjoy participating in an event that gives back to the community,” says Kylie Kocher, a Richland County High School junior and Olney FFA Chapter member. “It has helped me become a better citizen and person all around.”
The Olney FFA Chapter’s Involvement
The squirrel count has taken place for 45 years, and Olney FFA has attended for more than 25 of them. The chapter counts along multiple different routes to give many members this experience.
There are many benefits for the FFA members to be a part of this event. The first one is that is provides a great opportunity to learn about wildlife and how important it is to conserve it. Another is they get to be involved in a real research project. The number of albino squirrels that they count will be a factor in finding the population of the albino squirrels in Olney. It will also be used to verify if the albino squirrel population is increasing.
Olney FFA members taking a group picture before splitting up to count the squirrels at the White Squirrel Count. They even got to try on the costume!
The White Squirrel Population on the Rise
The 2023 Squirrel Count Results provide an abundance of information. To start, the ratio of gray squirrels to albino squirrels has increased in favor of the albino squirrels. The previous year’s ratio was 13.84 to 1, and the 2023 ratio was 11.75 to 1. Additionally, the average number of white squirrels has increased from 64 to 73. This shows that the population of albino squirrels is on the rise.
History of the White Squirrel Count
In 1977, Olney Central College (OCC) started the White Squirrel Count as a research project. The project was led by Dr. John Stencel, a life science instructor at OCC, who started it with a small grant from the Illinois Academy of Science. He has been helping with the event since 1977.
Stencel said that the population of albino squirrels will become extinct from Olney by 2034 if proper measures aren’t taken. He encouraged the community to help out the white squirrel population by providing basic provisions for these creatures.
A white squirrel on the prowl for food. Photo taken by Tim Dunahee Photography.
The Tail End
To conclude, the White Squirrel Count has been going on for almost 50 years. It has had a very positive impact on these endangered animals and the community of Olney, Ill.
The Olney FFA Chapter has been volunteering at this event for many years, which helps its members become part of a real research project that provides them with career success and furthers their aspirations in wildlife and animal conservation.
If you want to participate in the count, it’s never too late to volunteer!
