Perth, Ontario — A rare white beaver spotted near Perth has captivated wildlife enthusiasts across the Ottawa region, offering photographers a once-in-a-lifetime sighting.
During a quiet evening on the river, wildlife photographer Dennis Jackson and naturalist Michael Runtz witnessed the elusive creature gliding through the still waters. The beaver, initially startled by their presence, resurfaced moments later — revealing its distinctive pale coat and dark eyes.
Runtz, a former Carleton University professor, confirmed that the animal was not albino but leucistic, a rare genetic condition that causes partial loss of pigmentation.
“To see a totally white beaver with dark eyes and a dark foot, that’s incredible,” Runtz said, thrilled by the discovery.
The sighting was documented with photographs showing the beaver’s unique coloration. Jackson described the experience as unforgettable:
“That is totally one of the coolest things I’ve seen,” he said while steering his boat home.
The Canadian Museum of Nature holds a similar specimen collected in Rainy River, Ontario, in 1918, underscoring the rarity of such mutations. Research scientist Dominique Fauteux explained that leucistic traits are uncommon because they offer no evolutionary advantage.
“Over millions of years, that kind of mutation hasn’t become common. The pressure for evolution isn’t strong to keep that gene in the pool,” Fauteux said.
For those who witnessed it, science took a back seat to wonder. As dusk settled over the Ontario waters, the pale beaver — half myth, half marvel — reminded everyone how wild Canada still is.
