This Old Army Depot In New York Is Home To The Largest White Deer Herd In The World

Anyone who lives in New York is aware we have more than our fair share of natural wonders. Our numerous mountains, caves, lakes, and waterfalls all come to mind. But some natural wonders in New York are living animals! Did you know that New York is home to the world's largest herd of all-white deer?

The Seneca Army Depot is a massive 10,000-acre fenced area in Seneca County. The depot was used to store radioactive materials associated with the development of the atomic bombs used in World War II.

The army base was in service from 1941 to 2000, when it was formally closed. Little has been done with most of the land here. Some has been leased as storage units for companies, but most of it remains uninhabited.

Uninhabited, that is, except by wildlife. The depot is home to more than 700 deer, and dozens of them are white. It is thought that this is the largest white deer herd in the world.

The deer are not albino, but leucistic. They are much lighter than typical deer and have black or brown eyes, not red or pink ones like albino animals.

Leucism is a recessive genetic mutation that causes less melanin than normal to appear in skin. Due to inbreeding, leucistic animals are much more common in closed colonies like the fenced-in deer at the army depot.

Luckily for the deer, they are in a relatively protected, enclosed area, and not out in the wild. Their color is stunning, but it would make them easy targets for predators.

Tours were once offered by the Seneca White Deer Tours company, which shut down due to financial issues in 2019.

You can now see the majestic beauty of these gorgeous creatures with a self-guided or bus tour through Deer Haven Park, a section of the Depot staffed by organizers that work to preserve the habitat of these delicate animals.

You can find more information at Deer Haven Park's website or Facebook.

Animal lovers, rejoice: there's plenty to do and see in New York! Have you checked out The Wild Animal Park in Chittenango?