A rare blonde squirrel has been spotted living in the gardens of a popular Isle of Wight attraction.

Ventnor Botanic Garden shared photos of the unusual animal on its social media accounts, attracting attention from wildlife enthusiasts and visitors alike.

Blonde squirrels, also known as leucistic squirrels, are a genetic variation of the common squirrel, marked by their pale, cream-coloured or blonde fur and dark eyes.

Unlike albino squirrels, which have pink eyes and a complete lack of pigment, leucistic squirrels experience a partial loss of pigmentation due to a genetic condition called leucism. 

This rare trait makes blonde squirrels uncommon in the UK, with previous sightings mostly reported in East Anglia, Surrey and parts of southern England.

A spokesperson for Ventnor Botanic Garden expressed excitement over the discovery, saying: “We consider ourselves very lucky to see one as they are rare and pretty hard to come by!

“Blonde squirrels are a special kind of squirrel with light yellow or cream-coloured fur, not the usual grey or red. 

“Now would be the perfect time to visit the Garden if you wanted to try and catch a glimpse of this rare little animal!”

A blonde squirrel spotted at Ventnor Botanic GardenA blonde squirrel spotted at Ventnor Botanic Garden (Image: Ventnor Botanic Garden)

For those who spot this rare blonde squirrel or any other squirrel, the IW Red Squirrel Trust encourages the public to report sightings to the Wight Squirrel Project. 

The charity helps monitor the local squirrel population and conserve the island's wildlife.

To report a squirrel sighting:

  1. Download and install the Wight Squirrel Project app.
  2. Open the app and tap "+ Add Project."
  3. Search for "Wight Squirrel Observations."
  4. Select "Wight Squirrel Observations" and then tap "+ Add entry."
  5. Allow the app to access your location.
  6. If you're not at the same location as the squirrel when entering the record, note where you saw the squirrel in the comments field.
  7. Answer the questions, then close and upload your data and any images.
  8. Keep an eye out for more squirrels!

Ventnor Botanic GardenA blonde squirrel spotted at Ventnor Botanic Garden (Image: Ventnor Botanic Garden)