Staff Writer- Izabell Newman

The student body of Gustavus holds many diverse opinions, and as the election season draws to a close, it’s a good time to remember the things that unite rather than divide us. It seems that despite the range of ideologies or beliefs Gusties may hold, we can agree on one thing: there’s just something about those campus squirrels.

I first noticed the squirrels during welcome week. As a freshman who never spent much time on college campuses, I was unaware how friendly the wildlife would be. It struck me as odd to see animals that would usually distance themselves from me suddenly running right towards me, fearlessly gathering their nuts just three feet away. It took some getting used to, but I was personally more than happy to see them up close. Over the months, I spotted squirrels all around campus on my way to classes, to the cafeteria, or just out on walks. Needless to say, the squirrels are everywhere. From the Arb to the steps of Old Main, the Gustavus squirrels run rampant carrying everything from nuts to leaves and sticks.

The squirrels have become a favorite topic amongst Gusties. On apps like Fizz and YikYak, students have taken to, as I call it, “squirrel-posting”; students engage with all sorts of squirrel content, including images, memes, and discussions. Students have even taken to naming squirrels with unique appearances. One such squirrel, who has gone by many names (Q-tip, Nips, and Alfred, just to name a few), has a short tail with a patch of white fur on the tip. He can usually be found outside of Old Main or Christ Chapel, though he is of course not stationary and sometimes moves outside of his domain.

While the squirrels bring some students joy, others find them a little stand-offish. Some Gusties I have spoken to feel a sense of indifference toward the squirrels, usually because they are not afraid to get close to humans. While it is true that wild animals can sometimes carry diseases like rabies, it is the general consensus among pest control services that a rabid squirrel is extremely rare. That being said, it is not a great idea to go and pick up a wild squirrel; we should instead enjoy their presence at a distance (even if that distance is two feet). As a squirrel enjoyer myself, I have developed a list of tips for those who may also want to give squirrel watching a try:

Heavily forested areas support the most squirrels. The Arb is a great place for squirrel watching, though the most abundant and friendly squirrels live in the trees around Old Main.

While it may be tempting to get closer to a squirrel, it is best to stay still or continue walking. Squirrels are small, not stupid. They have survival instincts that will tell them to run if you get too close.

The morning and afternoon are the best times for squirrel watching, as it is when they are the most active.

If you really want to get their attention, try leaving some unsalted nuts out for them. Since we can’t set up feeders on campus, this is probably your best bet for feeding them safely.

The Gustavus squirrels are the one thing we can all come together to appreciate. Many students who left their pets at home may be missing the presence of a furry critter in their life. The campus squirrels are the perfect creature to fill that void! So long as you safely watch the squirrels (we wouldn’t want anyone to get bitten, of course), you may find their presence comforting. I know that when I’m sad, seeing a squirrel scurrying away into a tree makes me feel just a little bit better.

The squirrels are a reminder of the role we play in nature. So often we forget that there are billions of organisms all around us, whether they be bugs, bacteria, or small fluffy mammals. The squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem of North American forests, which rely on their burial of nuts to help plant new trees. Living on a campus with a bustling squirrel population serves as a reminder that mankind is not the conqueror of nature we think we are; rather, we are animals just like the squirrels. Albeit, the squirrels don’t read or have homework like we do. But nonetheless, we were once a wild species just like them. Perhaps, if we are to fix any of the world’s problems, we need to take a step back and look at the simpler things in life — we must acknowledge that the smallest joys are worth protecting.