'Mystery Creature' Baffles New York Town

By Tim Binnall

Authorities in an upstate New York town have identified a weird-looking creature that has been causing something of a stir in the community in recent weeks. In a post on social media, the Hamburg police department explained to residents that, "for a number of months now," they have been receiving 911 calls from concerned motorists who had spotted what they thought was either a sick dog or an ailing goat lingering around a Ford plant in the town.

Fortunately, the police department was able to put an end to the speculation surrounding the creature and revealed that, in fact, it is actually a deer. The reason for the animal's unique appearance, they explained, is that it is piebald. The unpigmented condition is actually fairly rare in deer, the department said, affecting just one in 30,000 of the creatures.

Stressing that the animal is most definitely not sick, they observed that "he's just minding his business" and advised residents to do the same should they encounter the curious-looking deer. "Enjoy the sight when you happen to spot him," the department said, "but please drive safely (and no snapping, tweeting, or live streaming while operating your vehicle)."