Snuggled in the southern peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, lies a quaint little town called Brevard, N.C..  Brevard is known for its scenic beauty and cultural heritage but one thing that is not widely known is the presence of the rare white squirrel. Contrary to popular belief these squirrels are not albinos but actually a rare breed of squirrel. As legend has it, the white squirrels were introduced into the area in 1951 by Mr. H.H. Mull.

As the story goes, Mr. Mull was given a pair of white squirrels by his friend, Mr. Black of Madison, FL. Mr. Black found the pair playing in his pecan grove shortly after a carnival truck overturned near his home. Mr. Mull gave the squirrels to his daughter as pets. For years she tried unsuccessfully to breed them. In 1951 Mull’s daughter married and moved away. Soon after, one of the white squirrels escaped so Mr. Mull let the other one go. Soon people started noticing white squirrels in locations all over town.

Through the years the popularity of the squirrels has grown. In 1986 the Brevard City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance protecting them. The Heart of Brevard Association recently initiated the Adopt-a-squirrel Program. For only $25 per year (16 years and older), or $15 per year (children under 16), you can adopt your own white squirrel. You can choose a boy or girl, and you will receive a “Certificate of Adoption,” a picture, and two letters per year from your squirrel. In addition you will also receive discounts from over 30 Downtown Merchants. You can pick up and Adoption Application at the Heart of Brevard Office located at 62 West Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712, phone 828-884-3278.

Biologists still declare there is no known species of all-white squirrels in the world, but those in Brevard beg to differ.