A curious, rare white squirrel poses on a tree branch in Olney, Illinois.

One of Olney’s famous white squirrels perched quietly on a branch, its bright coat standing out against the early‑morning woods.


In this small southern Illinois community of 8,600, you’ll find a beautifully restored 1874 Italianate mansion, a museum filled with Civil War–era regional artifacts, three scenic lakes perfect for boating and fishing, and a century‑old bird sanctuary and nature preserve. But the real gem here is a colony of rare white squirrels.


Few small towns can claim ambassadors as charming as the white squirrels of Olney, Illinois. These snow‑colored celebrities have appeared in National Geographic, on the BBC, CMT, and even television in New Zealand. In Olney, they’re more than wildlife, they’re a symbol of local pride, featured on everything from the city seal to souvenir keychains. This guide explores how these squirrels became icons, why they captivate travelers, and what conservation efforts protect them today, along with insider tips on where to spot them and how their story shapes 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.


A rare white squirrel looks out from its home in a knot hole in Olney, Illinois.

A rare white squirrel looks out from a tree hollow, framed by the dark, textured bark around it.



Albinism is a recessive trait: an animal will show it only if both parents carry the gene. The mutation imposes significant costs. Lacking eye pigment, they’re dazzled by sunlight, which can momentarily wash out their vision. That makes detecting and fleeing predators, such as cats, more difficult. Because fewer survive to reproduce, the albino gene is seldom passed on to the next generation.

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 quickly 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 near the 800 block of North Silver Street today.


The second version of events goes like this:





Back in 1899, farmer George Ridgely spotted a cream‑colored squirrel alongside a white one romping on his property. After failing to catch them on his own, he enlisted a neighbor’s help. Together, they built a large, box‑shaped trap, captured the animals, and eventually bred multiple litters of white squirrels. In 1902, they brought a pair to Olney, where Ridgely sold them to Jasper Banks for $5 apiece. Banks placed them in his saloon window to attract customers.


A white albino squirrel pauses while running down the side of a tree in Olney, Illinois.

A rare white squirrel pauses on the tree trunk, its bright coat contrasting sharply with the rugged bark.


After a law regulating the keeping of wild animals took effect, George Ridgely turned his squirrels loose in the woods by his Sumner farm, a few miles from Olney. Jasper 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 — the group that ultimately established the Olney white squirrel colony.


A rare white squirrel in profile, peeking out from its home in a knot hole in Olney, Illinois.

A rare white squirrel looks out from a tree hollow, its pale coat standing out against the textured bark.


White Squirrel Research


In 1941, Olney’s population of white squirrels peaked at roughly 800, but it has been falling steadily — and at times alarmingly — 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 coordinated conservation efforts, the local albino squirrel population could disappear from the area as early as 2034.


Dr. Stencel urged the community to take hands‑on steps to support the squirrels. He encouraged residents to put out both food and water, noting that feeding sites often appear near nests — a sign that the squirrels settle where resources are close at hand. He emphasized the need for extra food in winter and ample water during hot, dry periods, and he recommended planting more fruit‑ and nut‑bearing trees. His list of suitable supplemental foods included corn, beans, nuts, seeds, berries, and fruit.

The City of Olney has worked hard to implement Dr. Stencel’s recommendations. In the 1980s, the city began holding a yearly squirrel census, conducted on the first three Saturdays in October. Volunteers spread out through parks and neighborhood yards to count the animals, recording numbers of both gray and white squirrels and tracking cats, the squirrels’ number‑one predator. Recruitment for counters typically begins in mid‑August, and visitors are welcome to participate. To learn more or sign up, contact the Olney City Clerk at: cityclerk@cityofolney.com.


As of this writing, the 2025 count has been completed, but numbers were slow to be released. People were on edge, waiting for the outcome. After a drastic drop in 2021 and 2022, the numbers had seemed to be climbing again:


2020 – 93, 2021 – 69, 2022 – 64, 2023 – 73, 2024 – 81.


Update: The 2025 count is now out, and the total was 60. Because autumn arrived late this year, the still‑leafed trees made the squirrels difficult to spot.


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, and 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 amended its loose‑dog rule in 1997 to include cats. The policy is difficult to enforce, but that year’s survey recorded fewer free‑roaming cats and a higher number of squirrels. Dr. John Stencel expressed hope that the change would help boost the population of white squirrels.


Visiting the White Squirrels



Today, the small town of Olney has fully embraced the white squirrel as a tourist attraction, proudly carrying the official designation “Home of the White Squirrel.” As the city’s mascot, the white squirrel appears everywhere — on businesses, at community events, and throughout the town’s public art. From the annual White Squirrel Festival to murals and sculptures scattered across the city, this snowy‑white creature is woven into Olney’s identity as deeply as its historic architecture and welcoming community.


A curious, rare white squirrel stops mid-climb to pose on the side of a tree in Olney, Illinois.

A rare white squirrel pauses on the tree trunk, its pale coat contrasting sharply with the rugged bark.


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 include:


  • Olney City Park – 502 White Squirrel Drive, just off Route 130
  • Millers Grove Park – 4987 E Lake View Lane, on the south side of East Fork Lake near the dam
  • Bower Park – 300 block of S. Whittle


There are also many tree‑filled residential neighborhoods with feeding stations, making sightings likely throughout town.


A white albino squirrel collects nuts at the base of a tree in Olney, Illinois.

A rare white squirrel pauses at the foot of a tree, a nut held firmly in its mouth amid scattered autumn leaves.




Ultimately, Olney’s white squirrels are a rare local treasure that captures the town’s spirit. They reflect the community’s dedication to protecting its natural heritage and draw visitors from across the nation to experience something truly special. If your travels take you through the Midwest, be sure to add The White Squirrel Capital to your itinerary.


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.


For More Wildlife Travel Adventures See:

For Illinois Travel Ideas Check Out:


Not every image makes it into my blog. If you enjoyed the photos in this article, please check out my Illinois Collection for more pictures from the this amazing state, or visit my Image Gallery with over 4000 images of locations around the United States.



A framed photograph of a white squirrel perched on a tree branch hangs above a brown leather sofa in a cozy living room. The artwork features double mats—a light beige top mat and a darker olive-green bottom mat—inside a dark wood frame. The squirrel’s bright white fur contrasts with the textured bark and softly blurred background of blue and green hues. The frame is centered on the wall, five inches above the sofa, with four inches of space on either side.

A beautifully framed portrait of a white squirrel takes center stage above the sofa, adding a striking wildlife focal point to the warm, rustic room.


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