Meet Snow White, the Albino Deer of SKYE

Every so often, someone on the property stops mid-sentence and points toward the pasture. It’s usually for the same reason: a white deer, standing quietly among the others. We call her Snow White.

Snow White is an albino deer, and seeing her is something most people never get to do. She keeps her own schedule, so there’s no guarantee you’ll spot her, but the guests who do tend to remember it.

How Rare Is an Albino Deer?

• Very rare. Wildlife experts estimate that albinism shows up in roughly 1 out of every 20,000 to 30,000 deer. Many people who spend their whole lives outdoors never see one.
• It’s more than a white coat. A true albino deer has all-white hair and pink eyes, nose, and hooves.
• It runs in the family tree. Both of her parents had to carry the trait. Even a white doe can have a regular brown fawn.

Why Life Is Harder for Her

A brown deer blends right into the grass and the live oaks. Snow White doesn’t. She stands out, which makes it much harder for her to hide, and wildlife biologists say albino deer generally don’t survive as well as their brown herd mates.

That’s a big part of what makes her special. She has made it in the Hill Country, and we’re lucky to share the land with her.

A Property Full of Wildlife

SKYE is a working estate vineyard, and it’s also home to a lot more than guests. Whitetail deer, axis deer, blackbuck, and antelope all share the land, along with birds, foxes, raccoons, and the occasional porcupine. Snow White is the one everyone asks about.

Most of our sightings have been in the shaded trees closest to the main clubhouse, near the pod area. Early morning and evening are the best times to look. Take a slow walk down Bridge Trail, or settle onto your porch with a glass of SKYE Estates wine and let the property wake up around you. If she walks by, you’ll have the best seat on the property.

Please give her, and every animal on the property, plenty of room. They’re wild, and they’re happiest when we keep our distance. No feeding and no walking up to them. A phone zoom works great.

Spot Snow White

If you see Snow White, take a photo and send it to us using the form below. One winner will receive a bottle of SKYE Estates wine.