Grinnell's Unofficial Mascot: The Fox Squirrel
Love 'em or loathe 'em, you just can't ignore the plentiful and beautiful fox squirrels that thrive on the Grinnell College campus. We asked several of our photographers to catch the many moods of Grinnell's squirrel population.
- The fox squirrel is named for the fox-like color on its magnificent tail. by Sarah DeLong
- Streeeetch! Fox squirrels love nuts, insects, seeds, buds, and pilfered fast food.
by Sarah DeLong - So close! by Sarah DeLong
- At last -- success! by Sarah DeLong
- The fox squirrel is found throughout Iowa and most of the Midwest. by Sarah DeLong
- Whaddaya want?" Grinnell squirrels are assertive to say the least, and exhibit personality to spare. by Sarah DeLong
- Grinnell's squirrel contingent seems to be thriving, as demonstrated by this solid citizen. Fox squirrels are Iowa's largest squirrels. Experts say they range from about 10-15 inches in length, and can weigh up to three pounds (anecdotally, Grinnell squirrels can weigh a lot more). by Sarah DeLong
- It's a tightrope act, but no sweat for this guy. by Grant Dissette ’12
- "Really? You don't say!" Students frequently become fond of the squirrels, who often boldly take food directly from human hands. by Grant Dissette ’12
- "Scratch where it itches." by Grant Dissette ’12
- "I know I left it in here somewhere!" Squirrels make their nests in holes in trees, or build the big round leafy balls visible among the branches. by Grant Dissette ’12
- Up close and personal. by Grant Dissette ’12
- "I'm a handsome devil, aren't I?" February is mating season for the squirrels, which accounts for all the wild activity in mid-winter, including high-speed chases and daring leaps from branch to branch and tree to tree. Courtesy of Ben Gordon ’11
- "Bet you couldn't hang upside down like this!" Courtesy of Ben Gordon ’11
- Many gardeners and bird-feeding enthusiasts can attest to the cleverness of these rodents. A Grinnell faculty member of the early 20th century left us this story of the squirrels of his day: "Last year some hazelnuts brought home one day were spread out on a level area of roof to dry in sun and air. The village squirrels discovered them in surprisingly short time and made spirited and frequent predatory excursions to the store. The antics of the squirrels were worth far more than the nuts." (Selden Lincoln Whitcomb describing Grinnell, Iowa in 1902) by Stephanie Puls
- At home in the trees. by Stephanie Puls
- Squirrels don't hibernate, but they do spend more time in the nest when the weather gets cold. by Stephanie Puls
- "Got anything to eat?" by Stephanie Puls
- The fox squirrel's beautiful tail provides a useful counterweight for acrobatic leaps from branch to branch.
- Secret Agent Squirrel! by Jim Heemstra
- Grinnell College isn't the only campus in Iowa where squirrels seem to have the upper hand. On the website Campus Squirrel Listings, Joseph Bauer reports: "The University of Iowa was the first state-supported institution of higher education to admit squirrels on an equal basis with humans. They now constitute about 8 percent of the student body ... Here in Iowa City we know that the squirrels here have a the highest graduation rate in the Big Ten and finish consistently higher in most of the squirrel polls." by Jim Heemstra
- "Grinnell squirrels stick religiously to the 100-mile diet." by Jim Heemstra
- "Looking good!" by Jim Heemstra
- Ins & Outs, a Grinnell admission publication, once reported that Grinnell College was home to 476,704,685,230 squirrels. Several readers responded, concerned that the campus was some 20 feet deep in squirrels. by Jim Heemstra
- "I'm ready for my close-up!" by Jim Heemstra
This article appeared as a web extra for The Grinnell Magazine, Winter 2008.