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… my morning lecture. Two weeks later, the only signs of life on the Diag are the squirrels fighting over nuts, a sight all too reminiscent of the shoppers I witnessed at Meijer bickering over…

… top of one of the trash cans that hug the Diag’s cement benches. Not seeing what it wanted after searching for several seconds, the squirrel jumped down and started sniffing the ground by a tree…

…The squirrel is a staple of the University of Michigan’s culture. They make their homes in almost every corner of Ann Arbor, causing may- hem among themselves and providing entertain- ment for the…

… people who walk through the city’s streets and parks each day. I don’t claim to know everything about squirrels, but in applying the findings from research on the psychology of these (in)famous rodents…

…, I can at least sound like I know a thing or two about squirrels and demys- tify the lives of our honorary campus mascot. *** October had always been Kaia’s favorite month. The fallen leaves…

… arch and toward the Diag as hundreds of other students scurried to arrive at their prospective destina- tions. It was like a pattern of nature, this migra- tion of students leaving from or heading…

… toward a new location 10 minutes before the hour. A pack of swans headed north, limited only by a semesterly class schedule. Passing by the Shapiro Library, Kaia could see at least six squirrels in…

… her line of vision, though there were likely many more hiding behind trees and under benches within the same area. Fox squirrels, gray squirrels and a couple black squirrels were all visible among…

… undergraduates monopolizing the sidewalks. Kaia always thought that the Ann Arbor squirrels were cute, if a bit brainless. Last fall, her roommate had even kicked an unlucky, frantic one of these creatures…

… while running in Nichols Arboretum as it darted in front of her on the path. They were cute, but that did not mean Kaia found them completely endearing, or respect- able. Squirrels could be ruthless…

…, mean, erratic — and their scavenging habits involving cam- pus trash bins diminished any majestic quality they may have otherwise carried. In essence: Squirrels were a part of Kaia’s life, sometimes…

… cautiously avoiding the “M” on the Diag, to be a Michigan student is to participate in a rich array of traditions. To some, these customs include feeding squirrels on a sunny day. So, the question stands…

… their natural fear of humans. Ann Arbor’s fearless squirrels often approach students, especially around the Diag, because they are so often fed there. LSA sophomore Alanna Carlo- Pagan is a member…

…, once and for all, should we feed the squirrels? Nursing senior Autumn Farnum is the co-president of The Squirrel Club at the University of Michigan, an organization of students, alumni and…

… members of the Ann Arbor community that feed squirrels during the school year every Sunday. Farnum said they believe feeding squirrels is a good way to build a campus community, as long as they are…

… fed healthy food. “Having the connection between the wildlife and our students here kind of builds that friendly campus environment that we have and also makes sure that (the squirrels) have a…

… nice treat once in a while,” Farnum said. While Farnum — and campus tour guides — embrace squirrel feeding, animal welfare organizations have raised concerns over feeding the furry…

… creatures. Squirrels who are fed by people can become dependent on handouts occasionally never regaining self- sufficiency. Feeding squirrels can also contribute to their overpopulation in certain…

… areas as the squirrels adapt to reside in areas where human handouts are popular, such as parks and urban areas. When humans feed squirrels, whether on campus or in other areas, squirrels can lose…

… in Ann Arbor. Carlo-Pagan said it is important to think about the impact humans’ actions have on animal behavior when feeding animals like squirrels. “What you have to take into account when you…

…It’s nearly impossible to walk through the the University of Michigan’s Diag without seeing a number of squirrels roaming around. While these furry little pals have come to be a…

…. “There’s never really a good reason to touch squirrels,” Dantzer said. In regards to the hairless Diag icons, Dantzer said there is not much anyone can do to help the squirrels because their…

… central part of the identity of the University for many U-M students, the squirrels are facing an important issue: hair loss. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, LSA freshman Rosemary…

… Frederiksen said she was shocked when she first saw a squirrel with prominent hair loss. “I was really scared,” said Frederiksen. “I thought someone had shaved it.” Ben Dantzer, U-M associate…

… professor of psychology, ecology and evolutionary biology, told The Daily the squirrels are likely losing hair because of mange, a mammalian skin disease caused by mites or fungal infection…

… burrow and cause damage to the skin, which eventually causes the hair to fall out. Squirrels can lose their hair due to fungal infections too.” Dantzer said a possible mange or contagious…

… fungal infection could spread among squirrels as they engage in social interactions and explained how students feeding squirrels can increase the chance of infections spreading among them…

…. “One thing that can increase contact (between squirrels) is feeding the squirrels (because it) increase(s) aggregations of them,” Dantzer said. “(It is the same idea as) going to a crowded…

….” Dantzer also said it is ill- advised to ever touch a squirrel, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states no one should ever touch a wild animal because of the risk of disease…

….” Many students also pointed how the campus squirrels appear to be incredibly overweight. Squirrels tend to gain weight for the winter in order to store energy when it is harder to find food…