While the Tigers may be the center of Clemson's spirit and our school mascot, there's another animal on campus that always seems to be in the conversation. That is the Sciurus carolinensis, also known as the squirrels you see every possible place you look within Clemson. Ask any Clemson student and they guaranteed will have a story on hand about a squirrel encounter they had. What's behind all the buzz? What makes Clemson so nuts about squirrels?
1. They're Too Good for Acorns
Squirrels on campus have been spotted doing everything between dragging pizza slices across the street to popping out of trash cans with some Chik-Fil-A. Either way, it's safe to assume that these guys eat well.
2. They're actually Spider-Squirrels
As if trees weren't enough, the squirrels have developed the incredible ability to scale the walls of every building with ease. It can be a tad off-putting when you see a few squirrels above the doorway as you're heading into a building.
3. They're Way Too Comfortable with Humans
Most animals will scurry away when you get close to them. With squirrels, they don't move for you. You move for them.
4. They Can Wreak Large-Scale Havoc
"Campus-wide short on main line coming into sub station caused by squirrel. All power restored. No further outages anticipated.”
This was referencing a campus-wide power outage that happened this year. If this isn't enough evidence, it was reported in 2012, that the battle with these squirrels on campus had been a decade-long struggle, costing the university over a million dollars in damages.
5. They AmBUSH you
Emphasis on bush because it seems every time you walk by a bush or any form of greenery, a squirrel seems to fly out and run across your path. In my own personal case, across my foot.
6. They're On Birth Control
This was such a big deal that National Geographic wrote an article detailing Clemson's squirrel birth control methods. According to the article, Clemson covers sunflower seeds (a squirrel favorite) with a cholesterol-lowering drug. Some squirrels get their blood tested after, and you can see them running around with their ear tags.
7. The Wild West Showdown: Man vs Squirrel
If there's any encounter a Clemson student will have, it's the showdown. One moment you'll be walking down the street. Then, you look up and make eye contact with a squirrel staring right at you. You might even have to stop.
In case you want to read some more about the squirrels on campus through National Geographic, there you go.
