HOPPS Ghost Hunters

Did you ever go ghost hunting and get pictures with strange colored eyes way back in the darkest areas of your flash pictures? I have seen eyeshine (basically the colors reflected from the eye) in many pictures groups have taken --some thinking they might be ghostly eyes. I haven't seen the eyes of a ghost up close and personal (if they even have eyes), but I have seen many eyes in the dark that may be hard to identify if you don't know what colors different animal's eyes reflect. I put together this chart to help in that matter. I got this from many web sources and did some research only to find there is not an all inclusive list to be had anywhere. Keep in mind, these are observed and reported colors of "eyeshine", and there may be many more associated with these animals. This is basically just a crutch to help you identify possible sources of your "glowing eye" pictures. Notice, red eyes seem to be mostly rodents and predators. I hope ghosts aren't predators for all our sake.

Type of Animal/ Insect       Eyeshine Color

Alligator                                  Red, red-orange

Bear                                        Orange (amber)

Bullfrog                                   Green

Cats                                        Green

Cats with blue eyes             Red

Cows                                      Yellow

Coyote                                    Green or Blue

Dog                                         Blue (rare), Green, Yellow

Fish                                        white

Flying Squirrel                      Reddish-Orange

Fox                                          Bright  White, blue, green

Great Horned Owl/most other owls             Red

Horses                                  White, bluish

Opossum                              Dull Orange

Porcupine                              Deep Red

Rabbits                                  Red

Racoon                                  Bright Yellow, whiteish green

Rats (and most other rodents)      Orange or Red

Sheep                                    Orange

Skunk                                     Amber

Spiders                                  Silver or White

White-tailed deer                 Greenish-White, silver, white

Woodcock                             Glowing Red Dots