WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

July 6, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 27

WHITE SQUIRREL INSTITUTE[2]

There’s much to love about North Carolina, and thus July’s theme will focus on the rich history and wonders of the state. The impetus for this month’s theme was a white squirrel darting across Course 1 at Pinehurst Golf Course. Although North Carolina’s culture embraces the mantra, “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story,” the chance encounter at Pinehurst is grounded in fact.

The encounter led me to the White Squirrel Institute, the brainchild of biologist Richard Glesner. What started as an annual white squirrel count led to a larger body of research, stories, and the launch of the White Squirrel Festival, now known as the White Squirrel Weekend celebration. Like any good researcher, Dr. Glesner understood the benefit of engaging students in his work, assembling a group of college students from Brevard College. Contributors to the lore and scientific research available through the Institute include writer Paula Musto, and entomologist and award-winning author Eleanor Spicer Rice.

The City of Brevard hosts nearly 1,500 of the busy rodents. A variant of the Eastern gray squirrel, they differ from the 100 to 200 albino squirrels native to Olney, Illinois. Albino squirrels have red or pink eyes and are more sensitive to sunlight than white squirrels.

The original Ambassador to White Squirrel Day, the late Pisgah Pete, became firmly entrenched in Brevard’s culture. After retiring in 2022, Pete’s niece, Pisgah Penny, became Brevard’s forecaster. She is superior to the groundhog as she is both the predictor of the end of winter and the winner of the Super Bowl.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

See if you can find five fun and interesting facts about Brevard, the county seat of Transylvania County. Nestled amid the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is plenty to learn and explore beyond the large population of white squirrels.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: https://whitesquirrelinstitute.org; https://cityofbrevard.com; www.spicerrice.com; Susan M. Lefler, Images of America: Brevard, Arcadia Publishing, 2004.