While squirrels and other wildlife are a familiar sight on campus, leaving food out for them can attract pests and other unwelcome visitors. The university encourages the community to help maintain a safe and sustainable campus environment.
What you can do to help:
- Avoid feeding the animals on campus: Let wildlife take advantage of the natural nutrients across campus, as additional feeding can attract unwelcome pests or large animals. These animals can disrupt campus activity, especially after hours, or the natural ecosystem.
- Support wildlife by letting nature take the lead: Campus wildlife like squirrels have natural instincts and seasonal behaviors that help them thrive. Interfering can disrupt these patterns and may lead to dependency on humans or poor health. Observe and appreciate wildlife from a distance to help them remain safe and self-sufficient.
- Keep our campus spaces and artwork clean: Help preserve the beauty and integrity of campus by keeping shared spaces clean and free of food waste. Food left out can lead to damage of benches, gardens, landscaping and outdoor sculptures from the Ulrich Museum of Art as pests and other animals are attracted to campus.
Thank you for your help keeping our campus safe, not just for us, but also for the local wildlife, where they can thrive in their natural habitats.