June, 2025

The Rare Albino Squirrel That Stole Our Hearts

We’ve always enjoyed spending time in our back garden here in Petts Wood. With the bird feeders regularly topped up and plenty of plants in bloom, there’s usually no shortage of wildlife to watch. But nothing quite prepared us for the magical encounter we had recently - one that has since transformed our daily routine.

One late morning, while topping up the feeders, something unusual caught our eye. Perched on the garden fence, scanning the ground for leftover seeds and nuts, was a stunning white squirrel - an albino grey squirrel, to be exact.

For a few seconds, we just stared, completely taken aback. Then, without hesitation, one of us gasped, “Oh my God!” and ran inside to grab the camera.

Amazingly, the squirrel hadn’t moved at all. She sat perfectly still, as though she were waiting to be photographed. 

That one moment turned into something much bigger for us. Over the following ten days, we began paying even closer attention to the garden, keeping an eye out every morning. And to our delight, she returned - five times in total so far, always before late afternoon, and almost always in the peaceful early hours.

She seems to favour an old apple tree. From up there, she watches quietly from the branches or occasionally tastes a fallen apple if one catches her attention. 

A Rare Beauty

We quickly learned just how special our visitor truly is. Albino squirrels are incredibly rare in the UK, with estimates suggesting there are fewer than 50 in the entire country.

Their white fur is caused by a lack of melanin, and while it makes them striking to look at, it also makes them more vulnerable in the wild. That knowledge has made each of her visits feel even more meaningful. We now keep our camera close by, ready for her next appearance.

Publication

Our beautiful visitor even made it into The Times, The Irish Daily Star, and our local News Shopper, with a short story also featured in The Daily Telegraph.

Albino Squirrel in Times Albino Squirrel in Irish Daily Star Watching and Wondering

We’ll continue to watch, wait, and hopefully capture more photos of this remarkable squirrel. Whether she visits again tomorrow or next week, we’re grateful for every moment we get to spend observing her.

And we’d encourage anyone reading this to look a little closer at their own garden or outdoor space. You never know what might be passing through - or what wonders might already be right there, just waiting to be seen.