Man Captures Photos Of One Of Country's 50 Rare Albino Squirrels

A father captured a series of extraordinary pictures of a rare albino squirrel outside his house. Richard Waugh, 51, was thrilled when he spotted the white squirrel scampering around outside his flat in Edinburgh. The rare squirrel named Lexy has become a regular visitor to the garden.

Do you Know why albino squirrels are so rare? One in 100,000 creatures sport white fur due to lack of melanin. Albinism, a genetic condition which reduces the amount of melanin a creature has, can dramatically reduce an animal's chance of survival in the wild for a number of reasons. The condition leaves animals with white skin or fur because of a lack of pigment. This is particularly problematic for creatures such as squirrels who need to blend in with tree trunks and leaves to avoid predators.