Navigating a Big World
Beneath the old benches at the abandoned ice rink, new life has begun between wooden boards and moss. Families of squirrels, chipmunks, and ground hogs can be seen darting through the weeds left in the cavity once filled with cement as they explore a new, big world. Grey squirrels have litters and raise their young in late winter to early spring, long before Michigan feels any of the first April showers. Take a walk around campus during February or March to spot some squirrel pups learning to navigate!
Forgetful Gardeners
Grey squirrels, while preparing for winter, will bury up to 10,000 nuts before the first snow. While they have excellent memories, and will uncover 50%-85% of their cache, they’re bound to forget to uncover some of them. This forgetfulness leads to entire new generations of trees being planted for the spring, helping forest regeneration and serving the survival of entire ecosystems, just because one furry snacker forgot its lunch.
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