Aww! Rare 'albino' raccoon seen at Lake Merritt

Reddit user Breakfast_Is_Best posted this photo of an all-white raccoon peeking from behind a tree and shrubs at Lake Merritt, Oakland. The raccoon was described as "well-fed." Reddit user Breakfast_Is_Best posted this photo of an all-white raccoon peeking from behind a tree and shrubs at Lake Merritt, Oakland. The raccoon was described as "well-fed." Photo: Breakfast_Is_Best/Reddit Photo: Breakfast_Is_Best/Reddit Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Aww! Rare 'albino' raccoon seen at Lake Merritt 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Someone on Reddit posted a photo of what appears to be an all-white raccoon, a rarity in the animal kingdom, peeking out from between two trees in Oakland's Lake Merritt.

In fact, a few years ago the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife said in a Facebook post that you are more likely to be hit by lightning than see an albino raccoon.

Urban raccoons usually are treated as pests, but when one that looks like a miniature polar bear turns up, people are all "he's cuuuute!"

While the critter was described as an albino in Monday's post, one Reddit user noted that the raccoon lacked the requisite pink eyes and nose. The user suggested "leucistic raccoon" might be more accurate. Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation in an animal.

Several people felt compelled to pet the white raccoon.

"Thought it was a cat at first and was going to try to pet it until I realized my mistake," wrote Zenitram_J.

"I wanna pets," JelCapitan added.

Petting raccoons, assuming you could get close enough to one, is not recommended, as the mammals can carry rabies.

The raccoon reportedly has been seen on the lawn bowling courts across the street from the bird sanctuary.