After receiving reports of a renegade alpaca or goat roaming the area, Greendale police clarified in a Facebook post Thursday that people actually saw a white deer named Penelope.
Penelope, who police said was called by an unknown person, was simply prancing, eating and “doing what deer do,” the post said.
“It is not necessary to call,” the police wrote.
The Oak Creek Police Department posted a photo of officers posing with the deer in March, where commenters also referred to her as Penelope.
Commenters on both posts shared their own experiences encountering Penelope, with some sharing photos and videos of the white deer.
Wisconsin law designates white deer as protected animals, meaning it is illegal to capture or hunt them.
A deer’s white color can be caused by rare genetic conditions, meaning it’s rare to see deer like Penelope.
According to the National Deer Association, piebald deer have large patches of white hair, often mixed with normal colors, while albino deer are completely white.
Some also commented on the posts from both police departments to point out that many cultures consider white deer to be good luck.
According to the advocacy group Protect the White Deer, cultures around the world highly value white deer.
More information about white deer can be found at Protect the White Deer, a website dedicated to white deer conservation in Wisconsin, which posts updates on sightings and legislation to protect the rare animals.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigations reporter. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Quinn_A_Clark.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: White deer spotted repeatedly in Greendale, police say
