Olney, IL

In Olney, Ill., the white squirrels have an edge. They also have crosswalks, a leash law, and Belinda Henton—who is licensed by the state to rehabilitate orphaned or injured white squirrels before returning them to the wild.

Olney (pop. 8,631) is one of a handful of communities in the United States—including Kenton, Tenn., and Marionville, Mo.—which have colonies of white or albino squirrels. And, like the other towns, Olney takes great pride in its mascot.

“Being born in Olney, I was always aware of the white squirrels and I guess it was a given I would help take care of them,” says Henton, who is known locally as the “Squirrel Lady” for having rehabilitated dozens of the squirrels over the years. “As a kid, I always had animals growing up. This just continues it.”

Henton also is the city clerk and isn’t the only resident with a soft spot for the furry critters that inhabit the southeastern Illinois community. Many townspeople look out for the albino gray squirrels as they would for their own children—feeding them, driving slowly through marked “squirrel crossings,” passing laws to protect them, and bragging about their notoriety.

“They’ve always been here,” says Gwen Gassmann, executive director of the Olney Chamber of Commerce. “It’s just something God gave us.”

According to local legend, white squirrels first appeared in Olney in 1902 when a hunter captured a pair in the countryside. Soon after they were released, baby white squirrels began appearing, and it wasn’t long before they could be seen bounding through the treetops around town.

In 1925, the city council passed a law giving the animals the right of way on all city streets, levying a fine against any motorist who hit one. More recently, the council passed an ordinance requiring owners of cats—a predator of squirrels—to keep their pets leashed.

The town has few lawbreakers where squirrel protection is concerned, says Police Chief Tom Boren, whose department’s insignia patch is adorned with a white bushy-tailed rodent.

“I have two (white squirrels) living in my own back yard,” he adds.

Olney’s white squirrel population peaked at an estimated 1,000 animals in the 1940s, but declined to 115 in 1999, says John Stencel, a retired life sciences teacher from Olney Central College who has studied the albino squirrels for years. The gene for albinism is recessive, and traits such as white hair and pink eyes typically grow less common over the generations—unless they help a species survive—as might be the case in Olney.

Some residents are worried about the survival of Olney’s colony, but most are optimistic, given the level of care lavished on the squirrels.

“The city has put in squirrel crossings, and the cat leash law, and a tree planting committee has started,” Stencel says. “They are so dependent on trees.”

“Also, a good number of people feed them,” he adds. “I think all those things have helped.”

Next year, Olney will celebrate its 100-year relationship with white squirrels with a special festival. Plans are still being made, Gassmann says.

Until then, Henton will continue her role as nursemaid to baby squirrels. In late May, she released another half-dozen from her care, including one that recovered nicely from injuries received when his tree was felled.

“He’s doing really well,” she says. “I think he’s going to be fine.”

Tim Crosby is a freelance writer and newspaper editor in Decatur, Ill.

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