08/27/2026
Amanda Whitcomb snapped this amazing photo this week in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as she sat in stopped traffic and watched this deer cross the road. She sent us the photo and asked if this was a piebald deer. Yes, Amanda was right! She also reported the deer was limping slowly on what looked like a deformed rear, left foot.
That is one of the potential deformities that can be part of the piebald condition. The deer is walking on its left "heel." Crooked spines, misshaped legs and hooves, and internal organ problems can all be part of severe congenital deformities associated with the piebald gene. Did you notice this deer also seems to have short limbs? Dwarfism is another potential condition. Deer with the most severe piebald deformities don't live long. Deer with only mild piebald cases (affecting coat color only) live normally like other deer.
Though this deer has moderate to severe deformities, it may have survived as long as it has because it lives in the suburbs. In rural areas, it likely would not have avoided predators as long as it has. Learn a lot more here 👇👇👇
https://deerassociation.com/piebald-deer-how-rare-are-they/
