Photographer captures gorgeous, uncommon creature within the Bay Area

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Bay Area photographer captures pictures of uncommon albino deer on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.  (Matthew Raifman (@matthewraifman))

OAKLAND, Calif. – An area photographer has captured gorgeous photographs of a uncommon, ethereal creature within the Bay Area wilderness: an albino deer.

Matthew Raifman took the photographs on Sunday, following a mountain climbing outing along with his spouse and two younger youngsters. 

The East Bay resident mentioned the household was driving out of the world after they stumbled on what the wildlife photographer mentioned was probably his “rarest find yet.”

“We saw this striking albino mule deer in the middle of the road,” Raifman shared with KTVU.

He mentioned he pulled over and received on foot, and he naturally took out his digital camera to place his abilities to work. He was cautious to maintain a good way, utilizing a telephoto lens to snap the pictures. 

Striking pictures

The pictures he captured provided a exceptional look right into a Mother Nature variant not typically seen.

The animal’s white coat was particularly pronounced amid the fall-colored brush it stood in alongside its mom and siblings.

Raifman provided perception into what he noticed of the protecting mom, who signaled an consciousness of how uncovered and at risk the younger, white deer was. 

“While there were two other fawns, the mother stayed particularly close to the albino deer, as if it knew that it is more vulnerable,” Raifman famous.

The albino deer was with its mom and two different fawns.  (Matthew Raifman/www.matthewraifman.com/@matthewraifman  )

The photographs of the albino deer have been taken on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Matthew Raifman/www.matthewraifman.com/@matthewraifman  )

Dig deeper:

 The fawn is estimated to be roughly six months previous, regional wildlife specialists instructed KTVU. 

Protecting the animal

Both Raifman and wildlife officers have been cautious to maintain the situation of the animal obscure, in an effort to guard the fawn.  

Wildlife specialists have recognized the animal as an albino mule deer or albino Columbian black-tailed deer and solely mentioned it has been noticed in japanese Alameda County. 

“Because the fawn can’t use camouflage to protect itself, it is particularly vulnerable,” wildlife biologist Tammy Lim defined.

Local wildlife specialists have been conscious of the existence of the uncommon being and mentioned they’ve been periodically observing it from a protected distance, in an effort to “monitor its wellbeing.”

They urged individuals to not disturb the fawn if they arrive upon it.

“As with any wildlife sighting, if a visitor happens to spot this albino deer, the best thing to do is to give it plenty of space and leave it be,” specialists mentioned.

Dig deeper:

It’s unclear how lots of the uncommon deer exist in California. Some figures estimate the likelihood of a deer being born with albinism at about one in 30,000.

Experts mentioned the animals have challenges with surviving within the wild resulting from their white shade and incapacity to camouflage in addition to poor eyesight.

Albinism is outlined by an absence of any melanin, they defined, noting that’s why the animals with the situation are sometimes born with pink eyes. Melanin is a pigment essential for correct eye growth.

SEE ALSO: Squirrel assaults ship two individuals to the hospital in a Bay Area neighborhood

Experts additionally famous that animals may be born with partial lack of pigmentation, referred to as leucistic, like this bald eagle.

Nature connecting people 

Raifman, a father of two, is a semi-professional wildlife and nature photographer and has a PhD in environmental well being.

His photographs seize the on a regular basis lovely sights across the area, like vibrant sunsets, deep rust-colored fall leaves, majestic, billowing, low hovering clouds. 

His photographs additionally present perception into the world’s huge wildlife residents of their ingredient, with putting photographs starting from regal owls, bobcats, “birds of all feathers,” foxes and even tiny creatures like caterpillars earlier than their transition right into a monarch butterfly.

The fawn the photographer stumbled on will probably be one in every of his most memorable topics.

“Albino mule deer are very rare, and it was exciting to see one in the wild,” Raifman instructed KTVU.

He mentioned his work permits him to have a good time the impact nature has on people. 

“I am most driven by the way that the natural world can connect humans together,” Raifman defined, including, “I experienced this a few years ago when I documented a father swan raising a family of cygnets alone following the loss of their mother.” 

Raifman shared these photographs on-line and the response was huge and overwhelming, one that exposed how nature can deliver out humanity and create an interconnected group.

“I was really touched by how those photos resonated with people around the world,” Raifman mentioned, “and the role that wildlife photography could play in inspiring us to be better people.”

The uncommon albino deer was noticed in japanese Alameda County.  (Matthew Raifman (@matthewraifman))

The location the place the deer was noticed is being stored personal in an effort to guard the weak animal.  (Matthew Raifman (@matthewraifman))

Bay Area photographer captures pictures of uncommon albino deer.  (Matthew Raifman/www.matthewraifman.com/@matthewraifman  )

Bay Area photographer captures pictures of uncommon albino deer.  (Matthew Raifman/www.matthewraifman.com/@matthewraifman  )