On the old Seneca Army Base in the NY Fingerlakes there is a herd of white deer. They originated from a pair of twins back in the fifties that recieved the base commanders protection....A dominant gene passed along, a few years later, there were and are more white (not albino) deer in the area than brown. They occaisionally get out, and we have seen them on the opposite side of Seneca Lake, where they swim across to avoid dogs. (seen it). Outside of the preserve they are not protected.