Here’s The Truth About Blue Spots On The Snow It’s Actually Rabbit Pee

With the most recent round of snow that fell across portions of Minnesota, you might be seeing some bright blue spots starting to appear randomly. While what you are seeing is completely natural, it is a little strange to see because the blue spots you are seeing on the snow are actually rabbit pee.

Blue Spots On The Snow = Rabbit Pee

The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department shared the news that all of those blue spots Minnesotans are seeing on the snow aren't really a concern, as they are from rabbits that have been eating one of Minnesota's most prolific invasive species...buckthorn.

That's right, the rabbits are munching on buckthorn, which in turn, turns their pee blue. So you aren't seeing the remains of a melted Smurf.

So Buckthorn Turns The Pee Blue?

According to the online post, buckthorn contains a 'phytochemical' that turns the rabbits' pee blue when it's exposed to sunlight.

Online Disagreement Over The Blue Spots

When I saw the post from the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department, I decided to look a little further into the phenomenon. It turns out that things like ChatGPT don't agree that this can be true, while a simple Google Search shows evidence, like the above video, that it does happen.

Blue Pee Can Also Happen With White-Tailed Deer

Much like in rabbits (I often think of deer as just big rabbits), white-tailed deer, if they are eating a lot of buckthorn bark, branches, or berries, can also have blue pee, thanks to exposure from the sun turning it blue.

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So the next time you are out walking in the woods or simply out in the yard, and you come across some blue snow, much like the yellow snow, take a step back and know you've got rabbits or deer that are well hydrated stopping to visit.

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