In this small southern Illinois community of 8,600, you’ll encounter a beautifully restored 1874 Italianate mansion, a museum showcasing regional artifacts from the Civil War era, three scenic lakes perfect for boating and fishing, and a bird sanctuary/nature preserve that’s been protected for more than a century. But the real gem here is a colony of rare white squirrels.
Few small towns can claim ambassadors as charmingly cute as the white squirrels of Olney, Illinois. These snow-colored celebrities have been featured in National Geographic, on television by the BBC, CMT, and as far away as New Zealand. In Olney, these rare creatures aren’t just the local wildlife; they are the community’s insignia and celebrated on everything from the city seal to keychains. This guide explains how these squirrels became symbols of community pride, why they captivate travelers, and what’s being done to conserve them. Read on for insider tips on viewing spots and how their story shapes the local culture and tourism.
Olney's famous white squirrels are actually albino eastern gray squirrels. While the eastern gray species isn’t currently threatened, albinism makes these white squirrels exceptionally rare. Colonies of white squirrels are scarce, with only a handful of other towns besides Olney, such as Kenton, Tennessee, and Brevard, North Carolina, known for having them.
How the Squirrels Came to Olney
Olney’s earliest white squirrels arrived in 1902. Though there’s debate over who found them, everyone agrees the first white squirrels were displayed in a local saloon window as a marketing gimmick.
One legend claims that William Yates Stroup was hunting squirrels in the woods near his home in Olney when he saw a gray squirrel run into a nest. He shot at the den, killing the mother, and two pure white baby squirrels fell out of the nest. Putting the kits in the pocket of his game bag, Stroup took them home for his sons to raise. The boys spoon-fed them milk and the little squirrels lived, thrived, and grew well. That autumn, Stroup brought the squirrels to Olney, and they were placed in the front window of Jasper Banks Saloon. They drew considerable attention and became a major attraction for the establishment. After the Illinois legislature enacted a ban on keeping wildlife in captivity, the squirrels were released in Tippit’s Woods, a location that no longer exists but would have been where the 800 block of North Silver Street is today. The second version of events goes like this:
After a law regulating the keeping of wild animals took effect, Ridgely turned his squirrels loose in the woods by his Sumner farm, a few miles from Olney. Banks, meanwhile, handed his squirrels over to Thomas Tippit, a former Olney mayor, who had his two sons release them near his home, Tippit’s Woods.
Tippit’s sons were watching the white male squirrel leave the cage when a large female fox squirrel ran in and attacked him, “tearing him to shreds”. Tom Jr. threw something at the fox squirrel to scare her off, then ran to the house for his shotgun. He shot the fox squirrel, saving the white female squirrel who later produced a litter of all white squirrels, which established the Olney white squirrel colony. 
White Squirrel Research
In 1941, Olney's population of white squirrels peaked at roughly 800, but it has been falling alarmingly fast ever since.
In the mid-1970s, Dr. John Stencel, a faculty member at Olney Central College, received a grant from the Illinois Academy of Science to study Olney’s white squirrels. His findings warned that without conservation efforts, the local albino squirrel population could disappear from the area as early as 2034. Stencel urged the community to coordinate hands-on efforts to boost the albino squirrel population. He encouraged residents to put out both food and water. His mapping work revealed that feeding spots often sit near nests, an indication that the squirrels settle in locations where their food is close at hand. He highlighted the need for extra food in winter and plenty of water during hot, dry periods, and he encouraged planting more trees that bear fruit and nuts. His list of suitable supplemental foods includes corn, beans, nuts, seeds, berries, and fruit. The city of Olney has worked hard to implement Dr. Stencel's recommendations in an effort to save the white squirrel population. In the 1980s, the city began holding a yearly squirrel census that takes place on the first three Saturdays in October. On those days, volunteers disperse through parks and neighborhood yards to count the animals. They record numbers of gray and white squirrels and also track cats, the squirrels’ number one predator. Done by volunteers, recruitment for counters typically starts around mid-August, and visitors are invited to participate. To learn more about the white squirrel count or sign up, contact the Olney City Clerk at: [email protected]. As of this writing, the 2025 count has been taken, but numbers have yet to be released. People are on edge, awaiting the outcome. The white squirrel numbers for the previous years after a drastic drop in 2021 and 2022 seems to be climbing again: 2020 – 93, 2021 – 69, 2022 – 64, 2023 – 73, 2024 – 81. Hopefully, it continues to rise. Protecting the White Squirrels
Within the City of Olney, squirrels are legally protected; any action that harms them is prohibited. They must be given the right-of-way on all streets and sidewalks. Residents and visitors are urged to stay alert on the squirrels’ behalf. Violations of the law can result in fines of up to $750 per incident.
Because their white fur makes them easy for predators to spot, Olney’s City Council in 1997 amended its loose-dog rule to include cats. The policy is difficult to enforce, but that year’s survey found fewer free-roaming cats and a higher number of squirrels. Dr. Stencel voiced hope that the change would boost the population of white squirrels. Visiting the White Squirrels
Here, the squirrels want for nothing: the town steps in with food and shelter whenever needed, and even has a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to care for orphans and babies that have fallen from their nests.
While you can view the white squirrels anytime, prime viewing hours are early in the morning and at dusk. Some of the best viewing spots are:
While in Olney also check out these sites...
Robert Ridgeway Bird Haven - 4998 E Lakeview Lane
Bird Haven sits on the south shore of East Fork Lake, close to Miller’s Grove and is open from Sunrise to Sunset. Dr. Robert Ridgway, a naturalist, scientist, artist, and prolific author of more than 500 works, spent 62 years connected with the Smithsonian Institution. Appointed in 1867 as the zoologist for the Survey of the 40th Parallel when he was just 17, he retained that role until his death at 79. A leading authority in ornithology, he produced his most expansive work with Birds of Middle and North America, though he is most renowned for Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. In 1906, Ridgway purchased an 18-acre tract in Olney and built a three-room cottage. He and his wife passed many summers there, sharing the porch with friends while listening to birdsong. By the 1920s, the property was reputed to rank second only to a major tract in Japan for the diversity of its plant species. Much of the land was lost when East Fork Lake was created, but the porch has been reconstructed on the original cottage site. Ridgway is buried on the grounds, his grave marked by a granite boulder. Today, the property serves as a bird sanctuary and nature preserve. Heritage House Museum - 122 W Elm Street An 1874 mid-Victorian museum house constructed in the Italianate style. The historic McsBurg Schoolhouse and the historical societies newest acquisition, a Carriage House are also on the Heritage House Museum grounds. Carnegie Museum - 401 E Main Street The Richland Heritage Museum Foundation operates the both the Carnegie Museum and Heritage House and it is run by volunteers. Please see their website for more information on hours. About the Photographer
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White Squirrel print is shown matted with Sand top mat and Indigo bottom mat. Frame style is: PEC6.
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