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Talitha

(8,295 posts)

19. While living in Illinois I saw the white Deer herd at Argonne Labs - absolutely stunning.

Reply to johnnyfins (Original post)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 08:49 PM

Jul 6

They're not albinos...

" ..the deer are perfectly normal fallow deer (Dama dama), a naturally light colored species native to North Africa, Europe and parts of Asia. There are about 40 on the Argonne site."

"The deer roam freely on the Argonne site; sometimes wandering through the entrances and ending up as far away as Lockport, 12 miles from the Laboratory, and Fermilab, 17 miles away. But most stay within the Laboratory’s confines. Argonne does not own the deer, or feed them."

An old .pdf document put out by Argonne Labs includes info about the herd.
https://www.ne.anl.gov/About/Argonne_2006_Open_House.pdf

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Hi all. I saw a white deer with two white fawns [View all] johnnyfins Jul 6 OP

Maybe identical twins? I would think getting GPV Jul 6 #1

Unless they got the mutation from both parents, it's unlikely to occur in both. Or to your point, identical twins. paleotn Jul 6 #17

A story about the white deer of Argonne National Laboratory Cadfael Jul 6 #2

I remeber this from elementry school Lochloosa Jul 6 #3

Were they wearing sailor-style school uniforms? TrunKated Jul 6 #4

haha. johnnyfins Jul 6 #7

Wow 😳 MustLoveBeagles Jul 6 #5

i was driving so no pics. sorry. johnnyfins Jul 6 #8

It's okay 👍 MustLoveBeagles Jul 6 #9

There is a small herd of them in Wisconsin... 2naSalit Jul 6 #6

Very cool photos... GiqueCee Jul 6 #14

Wow sammythecat Jul 7 #24

I was on a trail in the driftless region of Illinois Stacey Grove Jul 6 #10

Gowing up there was an albino white tail on our farm. About 80% white. twodogsbarking Jul 6 #11

There's a herd in NY, descended from an English gift or something Easterncedar Jul 6 #12

White Deerskin Dance PufPuf23 Jul 6 #13

This is where my rationality goes to gruel. In the face of powerful experiences Maru Kitteh Jul 6 #15

Whoa! That highly unusual. The genes expressed in both offspring. paleotn Jul 6 #16

I'm surprised the deer lived to reproduction age. TomSlick Jul 6 #18

While living in Illinois I saw the white Deer herd at Argonne Labs - absolutely stunning. Talitha Jul 6 #19

Sadly, they are gone. Not a happy story. LeftInTX Jul 7 #22

I just found this video on Facebook. Sector 001 Jul 6 #20

Argonne National Labs near Chicago has white deer, but they're imported. LeftInTX Jul 7 #21

Beautiful! 🦌 💕💕 nt Raine Jul 7 #23