Watch as Edinburgh local spots possible rare albino squirrel playing in the snow

Eagle-eyed Steven Groat, a Covid-19 testing unit worker, spotted the bright white squirrel near Hutchison Crossway last weekend, despite the fact that it was set against a background of fresh snow.

“I just caught my eye scampering up the tree,” he told the Evening News.

“I never even knew white squirrels existed so it took a minute to figure out what it was.”

The squirrel is thought to be a rare albino, although the majority of white squirrels in the UK are a variant of the eastern grey squirrel.

Research suggests that squirrels have about a one in 100,000 chance of being born with albinism, which means their skin and fur lack the pigment called melanin.

Experts suggest that their bright colour makes them an easier target for predators compared with their grey relatives.

Whether the squirrel was a true albino or not, Steven said he and girlfriend were “delighted” that they spotted it.

Eagle-eyed Steven Groat, a Covid-19 testing unit worker, spotted the bright white squirrel last weekend, despite the fact that it was set against a background of fresh snow.

“We both looked at each other nearly laughing through surprise.

“It made our week - my girlfriend didn’t want to leave.”

The 37-year-old, who moved to the Capital from Orkney in October last year, explained that due to high winds and a lack of trees, there are no squirrels on the island.

“You don’t get squirrels there, so seeing an ordinary one anyway was a big deal, never mind a white one!

“There are no foxes either, so we have a great time walking about Edinburgh seeing all these little animals which most folk think are pests. They’re great.”

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