Squirrels of College Park

08/15/2026

Just another quiet Saturday morning here on the UMD campus mall other than the weird camera that was being used to take my picture.

I asked the photographer why every few photos they popped a giant Microsoft Word save icon out of their camera, and then put a different one back in it.

They said it is something called a 3.5" floppy disk and this digital camera from 1999 uses those to store the pictures, but each one only holds 3 to 5 images before being full.

As a squirrel here at UMD, I am used to seeing unexpected things, but this was like seeing back in time.

--Vicky, UMCP

Just another quiet Saturday morning here on the UMD campus mall other than the weird camera that was being used to take my picture. I asked the photographer why every few photos they popped a giant Microsoft Word save icon out of their camera, and then put a different one back in it. They said it is...

05/12/2026

It must be the time the humans call Finals Week. There are fewer humans walking around at the usual times or just
hanging out, and everyone looks more tired and stressed.

The humans who care for the trees put out a bunch of wood chips and things recently, which makes it a little further down to dig for yummy stored acorns, but I don't mind.

I hope the humans all do well taking these finals. Good luck!

If things go as they usually do, there will be many celebrating humans out here in a few days.

--Darcy, UMCP

It must be the time the humans call Finals Week. There are fewer humans walking around at the usual times or just hanging out, and everyone looks more tired and stressed. The humans who care for the trees put out a bunch of wood chips and things recently, which makes it a little further down to dig....

04/30/2026

A friend told me there is something called a GenAI whose name I share. This is not a first, since my mother named both me and my twin sister Gemini (thanks mom).

I have always joked that if we squirrels wanted to, we could use our cuteness for crime by having a group act all cute to get a student to kneel down to feed us, and as those squirrels distracted the student one of our buddies could unzip the student's backpack and steal their laptop.

Can you imagine how many acorns we could buy if we sold a laptop!

We squirrels and an honest bunch, but I thought I would ask this other Gemini to make what the humans are calling a "promptograph" showing my idea in action.

It used something named "Nano Banana Pro" to make this. That fits because this is bananas!

--Gemini, UMCP

A friend told me there is something called a GenAI whose name I share. This is not a first, since my mother named both me and my twin sister Gemini (thanks mom). I have always joked that if we squirrels wanted to, we could use our cuteness for crime by having a group act all cute to get a student to...

03/20/2026

When the humans leave campus for their Spring Break, snack opportunities pretty much vanish. Sure, I have a stockpile of yummy acorns, but pizza just does not store well. Oh well, they'll be back next week.

--Lily, UMCP

When the humans leave campus for their Spring Break, snack opportunities pretty much vanish. Sure, I have a stockpile of yummy acorns, but pizza just does not store well. Oh well, they'll be back next week. --Lily, UMCP

02/13/2026

It has been a challenging few weeks here on campus. There was a big snow storm followed by a day of sleet, and freezing weather for another week. The ground was covered by several inches of snow, capped with an inch of ice.

The humans also took a whole extra week off beyond their usual winter break because of the snow and ice, and something they call a "steam plant" breaking. If we squirrels break a plant, that's just lunch.

I had a good stock of nuts in my tree home, but I am glad there are now openings in the snow and ice via which I can dig out some of my buried treats.

--Fern, UMCP

It has been a challenging few weeks here on campus. There was a big snow storm followed by a day of sleet, and freezing weather for another week. The ground was covered by several inches of snow, capped with an inch of ice. The humans also took a whole extra week off beyond their usual winter break....

12/27/2025

'Twas a few days after Christmas, and all through the Mall, not a student was stirring, not one at all. The red bricks were frozen, the fountain was dry, the evening moon hung like silver in Maryland's sky.

The steps of McKeldin were vacant and bare. No crumbs from a bagel or pretzel were there. Old Testudo sat silent, his bronze nose a-gleam, while I thought of a pizza crust (what a wonderful dream!).

When out near the ODK fountain there rose such a clatter, I twitched my bushy tail to see what was the matter. Away from the trees I scampered in haste, hoping for something delicious to taste.

The light on the tips of the frost-covered grass, shone down on a figure I saw slowly pass. When what to my bead-blackened eyes should appear, but a man in a golf cart, with maintenance gear :(

Well, you get the point...

Happy New Year to Maryland, and to all many delicious nuts!

--Jemm, UMCP

'Twas a few days after Christmas, and all through the Mall, not a student was stirring, not one at all. The red bricks were frozen, the fountain was dry, the evening moon hung like silver in Maryland's sky. The steps of McKeldin were vacant and bare. No crumbs from a bagel or pretzel were there. Old...

11/28/2025

Thanksgiving Weekend is always so empty and barren. I miss the humans, but I suppose they do not have their families here on campus like I do.

I hope they are enjoying their long weekend with family and friends, but I look forward to their return and the yummy snacks that come with them. Fortunately, I have plenty of food squirreled away around campus. Get it? Squirrelled away. :)

--Reggie, UMCP

09/22/2025

I heard my man Tom Holland hurt himself during a stunt for the upcoming Spider-Man movie. Get well soon, Tom!

Also, Tom, you need to keep yourself safe. I would be happy to step in as your stunt double. Just get them to make me a Spidey Suit in my size and I will be there :)

--Parker, UMCP

I heard my man Tom Holland hurt himself during a stunt for the upcoming Spider-Man movie. Get well soon, Tom! Also, Tom, you need to keep yourself safe. I would be happy to step in as your stunt double. Just get them to make me a Spidey Suit and I will be there :) --Parker, UMCP

07/11/2025

We have had some very Maryland weather this summer, with many hot days and many rainy days.

Today was not too hot and not too rainy and had a nice afternoon for digging up a yummy nut and enjoying it on McKeldin Mall.

--Geraldine, UMCP

We have had some very Maryland weather this summer, with many hot days and many rainy days. Today was not too hot and not too rainy and had a nice afternoon for digging up a yummy nut and enjoying it on McKeldin Mall. --Geraldine, UMCP

06/13/2025

There is something nice about the relatively quiet campus when it is summer session in general. It is especially quiet this year because the big spaces in the building around here where the humans take their classes are mostly closed for something they call maintenance.

I particularly like the gentle early morning Maryland weather at this time of year, and coming down to the grassy places between the Iribe Center and the Computer Science Instructional Center to enjoy a little snack.

-- Pearl, UMCP

There is something nice about the relatively quiet campus when it is summer session in general. It is especially quiet this year because the big spaces in the building around here where the humans take their classes are mostly closed for something they call maintenance. I particularly like the gentl...