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Nope, not a white cat! Woman says she saw a rare albino raccoon in her backyard

A rare albino raccoon trotted through a woman's yard about a mile off of Kingston Pike near Pellissippi Parkway in West Knoxville this week.

The official state mammal that only comes out when it's dark was spotted in daylight in what some may call an attempt to go undercover.

A rare albino raccoon trotted through a woman's yard about a mile off of Kingston Pike near Pellissippi Parkway in West Knoxville this week.

"I adopted a rescue dog who I was trying to keep from seeing the raccoon and scaring it away," WBIR viewer Tracey from West Knoxville said after she saw the animal in her yard.

She says she's been amazed at the wildlife in East Tennessee since she moved here for a new job.

"I am been amazed at the wildlife here. We have wild turkeys, groundhogs, possum, fox and even a peacock in our neighborhood," she said.

MORE: TWRA raccoon facts

She previously worked for a humane society in Florida so she says she loves animals.

"Raccoons normally live only two or three years, and this one was at least that old," Tracey said.

She was surprised because she claims albino raccoons often don't survive in the wild as they lack the camouflage that protects them from predators.

Albinism does occur in many different animals but it's definitely rare.

An article on WideOpenSpaces.com says the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife once said odds are you'll get hit by lightning before seeing an albino raccoon.

Have you ever seen an albino raccoon in person? Email us pictures and video at 10Listens@wbir.com.

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