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A new year of school at Roberts Wesleyan University means the return of upperclassmen, the return of the faculty and staff, and the return of the squirrels! This year, the squirrels of Roberts have gotten more attention as there appear to be more squirrels than usual. Our furry little friends are often seen frolicking across Mereseau Greene, investigating garbage cans with their treemates, and even chowing down at Garlock (a lucky squirrel found a tater tot in the parking lot). They even have their own Instagram page (@squirrels_of_rwu)! So for those who have wondered about the plethora of squirrels at Roberts, here are some answers!
The type of squirrel that lives on the Roberts campus is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, and it is known to have the ability to adapt to living in suburban and urban areas like the Roberts campus. In the months preceding winter, these squirrels start hiding food —like nuts, acorns, and tater tots — in many locations so they have food for the winter. Additionally, studies on different college campuses have found that college squirrels are more sociable, letting people approach them from about 9.2 feet away, compared to about16.9 feet away for public park squirrels. Squirrels come in all shapes, sizes, and colors — A few miles down the road, SUNY Brockport even had an albino squirrel on their campus until he was tragically hit by a car. Perhaps Roberts will soon have a unique squirrel of our own! In the meantime, take time to admire the unofficial Roberts mascots, and if you are struggling to make friends on campus, know that the squirrels will always be there for you.
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