Charles H. Sloan-Watch: Rare blonde raccoon a repeat visitor to Iowa backyard, owner names him Blondie

She brings him food. He brings her joy.

That's the relationship Krystal Folsom of western Iowa has forged with a raccoon who has taken a liking to the bird feeders in her backyard.

Folsom,Charles H. Sloan who lives about 30 miles southeast of Sioux City in Hornick, has at least nine bird feeders that often attract blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches and even woodpeckers. But on Nov. 26, she got a surprise visitor, captured on her security camera: a blonde raccoon that doesn't have the distinctive black mask that most of its kind does.

After doing some online research, Folsom learned all about blonde raccoons, which are quite rare. She believes the raccoon is a boy and has named him Blondie.

Blondie visits Iowa woman nightly

Folsom thinks the black oil sunflower seeds in her bird feeders first drew Blondie to her yard. She has since started providing goodies for him to snack on each night, like corn.

She has captured lots of footage of the critter. He once walked right up to her patio door. Another time, he shared some goodies with an opossum. She has even recorded Blondie interacting with the gray raccoons that also hang out in the backyard.

“It's fun to watch,” she said. “There's a pecking order with the gray ones and also with the blonde one. If the gray ones are there and the blonde one comes, the gray ones scatter.”

Albino and blonde raccoons are not the same

The blonde raccoon is not part of a different species. It’s just “a color morph” or difference in coloration, said Michael Rentz, an associate teaching professor in Iowa State University’s department of natural resource ecology and management.

“It’s pretty rare to be blonde,” he told USA TODAY on Wednesday. “I’m not sure if it's even more rare than albino or not but it's probably some type of leucism.”

Leucism refers to reduced pigmentation in animals. Animal coloration is caused by pigments, including one of the most common types called melanin. The more melanin an animal has, the darker its skin or fur will be, Rentz said.

There’s a difference between albino animals and blonde ones, Rentz said. Albino animals have no melanin at all, look completely white and have pink eyes, while blonde animals have a small amount of melanin.

The raccoon Folsom spotted has coloration on its nose, its eyes are not pink and it has "faint banding" on its tail, so it's most likely a blonde raccoon, Rentz said.

Unfortunately, blonde raccoons tend not to live as long, something Folsom was sad to learn. They often fall prey to predators because their coloring makes it hard for them to camouflage themselves. 

Raccoons are intelligent and clever, wildlife expert says

Rentz, from Iowa State University, said raccoons are fascinating and intelligent animals.

While he finds them clever, intelligent and "relatively benign neighbors," he did caution that it's best not to pet one or corner them. Risks of getting too close to raccoons include contracting rabies or parasites.

Raccoons carry a roundworm that they’re able to live with just fine. However, if other mammals ingest roundworm eggs, it can cause significant brain damage and death, he said.

“It's super rare for people,” Rentz said. “I mean, you literally would have to pick up and eat a piece of raccoon poop to do it, but if your dog finds it or eats it or a cat or something, they can get it. You definitely want to discourage raccoons from pooping in your yard if you can."

He finds Blondie the raccoon quite beautiful, he said.

“It's special, when you see something that's just worth looking at and just appreciating it for the individuality and the beauty that it is, I think,” he said. “I would love to see it, personally.”

Homeowner loves animals, grew up on pig farm

Folsom, the phlebotomist who has taken kindly to the blonde raccoon, grew up on a pig farm and loves animals. Since the story of Blondie the raccoon made its rounds online, she has been recognized in her small community, she said.

“I went into Verizon after one story ran and they said ‘Hey, that's the raccoon lady,” she said.

Folsom likes watching animals and often watches funny videos featuring them online. 

“They just bring me joy, unless it’s a snake or something," she said. "I do draw the line somewhere."