Wednesday marked the 24th celebration of Squirrel Appreciation Day, a day created by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove in 2002 to appreciate the over 200 species of squirrels around the world. At Ohio University, students and squirrels have coexisted since the Board of Trustees introduced the creatures to campus in 1908. One hundred and eighteen years later, these squirrels give us insight into the behavior and health of our campus.
At OU, squirrels are most often seen running through College Green in the fall, in search of nuts and leftover pizza. The scurrying creatures are beloved and admired by OU’s students. However, few look deeper into the animal’s existence.
John Koprowski is a dean and professor at the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Also known as “Squirrel Doctor,” Koprowski is one of America’s leading experts on the small tree and ground-living mammals.
In fact, squirrels were his “gateway wildlife animal” to get involved with wildlife conservation. Growing up, he watched them in his backyard throughout the year and developed a connection to the natural world through these animals. Then, at Ohio State University, he studied the animal for his undergraduate degree out of necessity.
“(I) did not have a car … campus squirrels were easy for an intro biology class project or a senior level animal behavior class,” he said. “I ended up working on them and getting interested in their ecology and some of the cool things they’re able to do in these little bits of habitat surrounded by people and roads.”
Though his intention was never to focus his career on squirrels, opportunities kept presenting themselves. He earned his master’s degree at Southern Illinois University, working on squirrels, and his PhD at the University of Kansas, based on a project focused on, you guessed it, squirrels.
Koprowski continues to research squirrels today and co-authored “Squirrels of the World” (2012), a guide to the world’s 285 species of squirrels. Since the book was published, however, that number has increased to 325, and the new edition covering these species is “just about done,” according to Koprowski.
On OU’s campus, the most common species of squirrels are eastern gray squirrels, eastern fox squirrels and southern flying squirrels; but the squirrel family includes more than just the trapezing animal we see on College Green. Groundhogs, woodchucks, chipmunks, marmots and even prairie dogs are all considered members of the squirrel family.
Thanks to their high adaptability, squirrels become accustomed to student presence on campus due to frequent foot traffic and similar values, according to Koprowski. While squirrels may appreciate oak trees for their seeds, humans value these trees for its shade, increased property value and visual aesthetic.
“We’re brought together in that way, and college campuses are great examples of that … (students) are laying in the grass, studying or chatting or playing frisbee, maybe even leaving some bits of food around,” Koprowski said. “... (squirrels) become accustomed, or acclimated, habituated to the presence of humans, and the fact that (human) presence is not necessarily a negative and might even be a positive.”
Executive Director of OU’s Facilities Management Steve Mack described OU’s relationship with the furry creatures.
“Squirrels are simply part of the natural wildlife on our campus, and we manage them as such,” Mack wrote in an email. “We generally don’t experience many issues outdoors, aside from the occasional mess around exterior trash receptacles when they dig for food waste. Beyond that, our interactions with them outside are minimal, and we don’t take any special measures to manage them.”
If a squirrel does find its way into a building, the Environmental Health and Safety team handles its safe removal, but squirrels are typically a non-issue for Mack’s team. Though they may keep to themselves on campus, squirrels can give insight into the health of an ecosystem.
Squirrels are an indicator species, according to Koprowski. The University of Washington defines the species as “an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.” Koprowski has conducted extensive research on squirrels as indicators of forest health.
“Their population sizes are influenced by the diversity of trees, by trees of diverse ages,” Koprowski said.
Trees produce seeds at varying speeds and ages. During a down year, when seed production is low, squirrel populations may decrease. Having a well-balanced assortment of ages and species of trees enables species to persist throughout the year. In fact, having a fully functional urban forest is beneficial for both squirrels and humans.
“(Squirrels are) wonderful in lots of ways because they’re accessible to people, they’re a great educational tool,” Koprowski said. “... what started as something I watched in my backyard as a seven or eight-year-old, to still be watching them is pretty amazing in some ways.”
Koprowski mentioned “squirrel fishing,” where students take fishing poles, use a squirrel-friendly snack as bait and see how far they can lift squirrels. Clearly, there are both environmental and entertaining reasons to keep squirrels around.
As Koprowski says, “Keep squirreling.”
