BREVARD, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Pisgah Piper, Brevard’s resident prognosticating white squirrel, predicted a late winter during the town’s 12th annual White Squirrel Day, held virtually this year because of snowy conditions.
The white squirrel, making her second appearance as the event’s official forecaster, also weighed in on football, selecting the Seattle Seahawks to win Sunday’s Big Game.
Pisgah Piper is cared for by The White Squirrel Institute after losing her sight because of an injury in the wild. The local nonprofit provides financial assistance to licensed wildlife rehabilitators who rescue and care for white squirrels and other native wildlife.
White squirrels make up nearly one-third of Brevard’s squirrel population and are considered the town’s unofficial mascot. The animals are not albinos but a color variant of the eastern gray squirrel.
Local legend traces Brevard’s white squirrels to the mid-20th century, when a pair of white squirrels were transported from Florida and eventually released in the area. They later bred with the local squirrel population, resulting in the sizable white squirrel presence seen today.
In addition to White Squirrel Day, the animals are celebrated annually during White Squirrel Weekend on Memorial Day weekend. This year’s event is scheduled for May 22-24, 2026, when downtown Brevard will host vendors, food and live music. White squirrel-themed merchandise is also available year-round at the White Squirrel Shoppe in Brevard.