Squirrel! 

Are you the type of person who adores squirrels and their cute little faces and silly antics? Or are you the type who curses the critters as they empty your bird feeder and dig up your garden? Either way, one thing everyone can agree on: squirrels do not need your snacks. 

“Wildlife adds appeal to the campus experience. Certainly stop and admire, but please resist the temptation to engage,” said Adam Jones, environmental services manager in Campus Planning and Facilities Management. “Do not feed the squirrels. Do not feed the ducks. Do not feed animals of any kind. It does more harm than good.” 

All University of Oregon locations have wildlife, with squirrels being the most visible and plentiful on the Eugene campus. 

The UO policy covering wild and domestic animals states, “Feeding of wildlife on University of Oregon owned and leased locations is prohibited.” 

If a squirrel approaches you instead of scurrying up a tree, the animal has been “food conditioned” by people, according to the National Park Service. Pleading Squirrel Face is hard to resist but please know the rodent is perfectly capable of foraging and surviving on our tree-filled university. 

Wildlife that loses fear of people can become aggressive, even biting the next human who refuses to hand over their lunch. Or they come in droves to fight with each other to get to the easy meal. Additionally, food processed for humans — including some nuts — may be unhealthy for wildlife, causing them harm. 

The next time you are tempted to share your Doritos with a squirrel, just keep your snacks to yourself. 

—Jennifer Archer, University Communications