Good in people: A woman keeps feeding a rare albino porcupine with poor vision that visits her cabin, and the adorable video has melted hearts online - watch

Wild animals usually keep their distance from people. But Pookie, a rare albino porcupine with snow-white quills and pink eyes, appears to have made an exception. Videos shared online show Pookie visiting a cabin in the woods for something much simpler than fame, food, fresh water and a little care. In one adorable clip, the unusual porcupine can be seen returning to the same human space, where she is offered treats, including strawberries and apples.

The gentle visits have drawn attention online, with Pookie’s Instagram page attracting around 62,000 followers and regularly sharing videos of the wild animal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞™ (@pricklywhiteporcupines)

A wild porcupine with an unusual appearance

Pookie stands out immediately. Her quills are white or marshmallow-colored, her eyes are pink and her teeth have an orange tint. And it didn't take much time to win the hearts of the internet.

One commenter joked, “Not to be dramatic but I would cross oceans for POOKIE,” while another admitted, “I didn’t expect to fall in love with an albino porcupine named Pookie at 6am today but here we are.” Another called Pookie’s chewing “ASMR,” showing just how much the animal’s adorable videos resonated with viewers.


Albinism is extremely rare in wild animals. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, it occurs when cells cannot produce melanin, the pigment responsible for coloring skin, hair, eyes and other body structures. Complete albinism can result in an animal appearing white or pink.

For Pookie, that unusual coloring is more than an adorable feature.

Why being albino can make life harder

Melanin plays an important role in eye development, and animals with albinism can experience problems with vision, including focusing, depth perception and tracking.

The lack of pigment can also make camouflage much harder. An animal that would normally blend into its surroundings can instead stand out against the forest, potentially leaving it more exposed to predators.

A Reddit post featuring Pookie described the animal as having poor vision and a lack of camouflage, while showing her visiting for food and water. That makes the footage especially touching.