This morning, Jeanine spotted a trio of deer feeding across the river from our house. One was unique in appearance, and we later learned that it is a piebald deer. These deer are affected by a rare, inherited genetic condition that causes a patchwork of white and brown fur instead of a normal solid brown coat. This unique coloring results from a lack of pigment cells in specific areas of the deer’s skin and hair during development. Unlike true albinos, piebald deer typically retain normally colored brown eyes, dark noses, and dark hooves. In addition to their distinct markings, the underlying genetic mutation can sometimes lead to structural abnormalities, such as short legs or a curved spine.