continued from      "All About Albinism" The fledgling albino jay was found in a residential area of Greensburg, near a playground and a very busy street.  The parents were present, but the finder had seen several small boys harassing the bird.  As she kept watch over the next few hours, it became evident that the young jay was having difficulty flying.  We decided a rescue was necessary because of the danger of molestation by children or cats.  Upon exam, we found out that “Angel,” as we named the bird, had very poor depth perception.  Without good eyesight, this young jay would definitely not survive the odds already stacked against him because of his coloration. Strangely, in some rare cases, the fact that an animal is albino can actually help it live longer.  That is the case in the small community of Olney, Illinois.  Two albino squirrels were released there in 1902.

Today, the town flag and police cars feature pictures of the town’s beloved white squirrels. One sixth of Olney’s squirrels are white and half of the gray squirrels carry the albino gene.  “Squirrel Crossing” signs dot the landscape along with squirrel nest boxes constructed by the local Boy Scout troops.  Strictly enforced “cat leash laws” are in effect in Olney to protect the squirrels; and you can be fined if you accidentally hit a squirrel with your car.  In Olney, the albino squirrel population has increased exponentially because the local residents have helped to protect animals that are usually looked upon as nature’s outcasts.  Of course, this is just one example of how humans can work together to help wildlife survive, regardless of the color of their fur or their feathers.  Perhaps we can learn a few lessons from the residents of Olney and apply them to human beings as well. <end>