Many colleges and universities take great pride in the beauty of their campuses. Green space provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, nature walks, and just plain old fresh air to students – but also comes with a variety of wild visitors.Â
Pretty much any American campus (and probably a good number of international ones as well) feature trees, so birds and squirrels are among the most common sights when walking to class or studying outdoors. Urban campuses will host more pigeons, opossums, and raccoons (often found in and around dumpsters, which may have even more food scraps than usual when college students are involved) while suburban and rural schools might see deer, rabbits, and the occasional coyote.Â
In addition, many schools feature gardens and flowerbeds to add a splash of color to the greenery, which draws all kinds of pollinators. Be gentle with bees and butterflies (they’re essential to a healthy ecosystem, and many species are endangered!) and even with spiders – while they’re not pollinators, I’m sure we can all be grateful that they keep the population of mosquitos and gnats manageable.
It’s important to know which critters can be found in and around your campus for a variety of reasons – if you drive a car, own a pet/emotional support animal, have a bird feeder or bird bath near your dorm/house, or simply enjoy spending time outside, you should be familiar with potential dangers and cool visitors that you might like to snap a photo of!
Environmentally, it’s also important to NOT introduce domestic animals to a wild area. Domestic cats especially, when allowed to roam outside, often prey on birds. An unfortunate trend with students is to adopt a pet (often a goldfish or betta fish) and, at the end of the year or at a semester break, release the fish into a campus water feature rather than go through the hassle of bringing it home. This is extremely detrimental to many ecosystems, as goldfish reproduce quickly and will out-compete native species. They also eat nearly anything, from smaller fish to any greenery that dares grow beneath the surface.Â
For your safety and that of the campus critters, please be mindful of feeding wild animals and allowing domestic ones free reign outside. You’re never sure how those around you will react, so it’s best to keep dogs (or any other pet that you bring outside) on a leash or in a carrier, especially during the busy times between classes. While wild animals may be cute and should be treated with kindness and respect, you should probably avoid feeding them to stop them from becoming dependent on human generosity.Â
If you’re looking to learn more about your campus’s creatures, reach out to an environmental department or club if your institution has one (or head to the library for materials on local wildlife!). Walks, birding, and nature photography can all be rewarding and relaxing pastimes; take advantage of the nice weather this autumn and see what you can see!