Squirrels of College Park

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

Darcy 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....

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

Gemini 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...

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

Lily 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

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

Fern 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....

'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

Jemm '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...

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

Oops! | Flickr

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

Parker 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

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

Geraldine 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

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

Pearl 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...

There are a whole lot of humans putting up a whole lot of tents all around campus. They are taking all the good spots. I will be doing some stealthy travelling for a few days because this means that it is time for Maryland Day again.

The oral history of my clan says that this is the 100th birthday of the original Ag Day celebration back in 1925, and that Maryland Day started in 1999 and folded the long-standing Ag Day celebration into it.

I hope the anticipated 80,000+ humans leave some good snacks for us when they are done with their fun tomorrow.

-- Aggie, UMCP

Aggie There are a whole lot of humans putting up a whole lot of tents all around campus. They are taking all the good spots. I will be doing some stealthy travelling for a few days because this means that it is time for Maryland Day again. The oral history of my clan says this is the 100th birthday of the...