They're not as fearsome as a white whale on the high seas, or as portentous as a white buffalo calf on the Great Plains. But a handful of white squirrels is causing a stir in Maryland.

Two of the critters have been spotted scampering about between the historic Holly Hall Mansion and the Big Elk Mall in Elkton, chasing nuts and making headlines in the local newspaper.

"We all feed them, and they just kind of enjoy themselves, frolicking around in a little yard," said Elkton native Deborah L. Duff, who first noticed the young pair in September.

"They're like any typical squirrel," she said. "If you have enough peanuts, they'll come close, but not close enough to eat out of my hand."

Elkton's white squirrels are attracting gawkers, and the news has spurred other Marylanders to report similar sightings near Washington, D.C., and Easton.

Patricia Boynton spotted one in her backyard in Hyattsville, just outside the District line two weeks ago. "I was astonished to see it," the Texas native said. "I had no clue there were white squirrels up here."