Imagine being out on a fishing trip and suddenly encountering a creature so rare, it feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. That’s exactly what happened to wildlife photographer Dennis Jackson when he spotted an unusual white animal swimming in the waters of Ontario, Canada. “What the heck is that?” he recalled thinking, as he strained to get a better look at the shimmering figure in the distance.

Jackson and his friend initially ruled out common birds like swans or seagulls, but as they paddled closer to the mysterious creature, their jaws dropped. It was a beaver—yes, a beaver—sporting the rarest of white fur. The sight sent shivers down Jackson’s spine, a surreal experience for someone who usually captures nature on film.

Though he didn’t have his pro camera gear with him, he whipped out his phone, snapping a few quick shots as the beaver swam curiously around their boat. “We were just excited,” Jackson said, sharing that the beaver moved gracefully despite its unusual appearance. But before they knew it, the beaver disappeared, leaving Jackson determined to return with his photography setup.

When Jackson came back, fortune smiled upon him—there was the white beaver, still in the same spot, ready for its close-up. He captured breathtaking photos and videos, documenting this rare wildlife moment that he described as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Interestingly, the beaver’s striking coloration didn’t seem to change its behavior or how it interacted with other beavers in its marshy home.

Jackson was curious whether the beaver was albino or leucistic—a condition leading to partial loss of pigmentation. Consulting Canadian naturalist Michael Runtz, they concluded the beaver was leucistic, as it had dark eyes and feet. Runtz, who has spent decades studying wildlife, admitted he had never seen a white animal of that size in his career, further amplifying Jackson’s excitement about witnessing such a rare creature.

To protect the beaver from overzealous fans and ensure its safety, Jackson has kept its location a secret. Despite living in Ontario, where beavers are common, he expressed that this unique sight has inspired him to cultivate a deeper curiosity about nature. “It kind of inspired me to be more curious,” he said, illustrating how moments like these can reignite our connection to the wild.