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<\/p>\nA Pennsylvania wildlife center took in an extremely rare albino cardinal \u2014 and it wasn’t even the first one for them this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Washington Boro, Lancaster County, said it’s estimated that the odds of seeing any cardinal displaying white feathers are about 1 in 30,000, and true albino cardinals, which lack all pigmentation, are even rarer.<\/p>\n
The wildlife center took in Frosty back in July after getting a call from a woman who found a white bird under her car. When the bird got to the wildlife center, they realized it was actually an albino cardinal, which is considered one of the rarest bird sightings.<\/p>\n
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A Pennsylvania wildlife center took in an extremely rare albino cardinal \u2014 and it wasn’t even the first one for them this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
(Photo: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center\/Facebook)<\/p>\n
But then the number of albino cardinals at Raven Ridge doubled. The wildlife center said it admitted a second one, but it was already compromised due to a severe ear infection. The second cardinal didn’t survive, as the wildlife center said “fragile” albinos typically have a short lifespan.<\/p>\n
Frosty is doing well now and “has developed quite the personality,” the wildlife center said in a Facebook update<\/a>\u00a0on Thursday. He’s no longer the white puffball that was first admitted. Now that he’s molting, some color is starting to come through in different areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Frosty will have to be kept in captivity the rest of his life because Raven Ridge said his chances of survival in the wild would be “slim.” A genetic mutation in albinos causes a lack of melanin, turning Frosty white and giving him reddish-pink eyes. This means he has no camouflage and poor eyesight, so it would be nearly impossible for him to avoid predators like cats and hawks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n