Oshkosh Zoo
Albino Raccoon

Albino Raccoon

We can’t wait for you to meet our albino raccoon Audrey! Did you know that 1 in every 10,000-20,000 raccoons is born with albinism? Albinism is an inherited genetic condition characterized by the inability to produce melanin, the pigment in hair, skin and eyes.

Whether you live in the city or the country, there’s a good chance that a raccoon lives nearby. While the black markings and distinctive look of the raccoon face has been portrayed in movies and stories as a thief, there is a purpose to their design. The black acts similarly to the black stickers that athletes can be seen wearing on game day to absorb the incoming light and reducing glare. That comes in particularly handy at night when peripheral light might otherwise make it difficult to see contrast – especially in the dark when our adorable outlaw friends are most active.

Did You Know?
President Calvin Coolidge once had a pet raccoon that lived in the White House. He took it for walks and it participated in plenty of White House events!