The phrase “campus wildlife” likely brings a few species of animals to mind, specifically squirrels, geese and crows. These three are very prevalent at the University, but they’re far from the only species on campus.
“You see squirrels and geese and crows on a regular basis,” said Joy O’Keefe, professor in ACES. “But there is a lot of other wildlife that comes through campus — things that are hidden, and you might not notice.”
Birds are one of the most common types of “hidden wildlife.” The University lies on a major migration route called the Mississippi Flyway, where birds flying over often stop to rest.
“I could go out on campus and find 80 species of birds,” said Michael Ward, Levenick Chair in Sustainability and professor in ACES. “If you keep your eyes out when you run across campus, you’ll see all kinds of birds.”
Other than crows and geese, Ward named the American robin, dark-eyed junco and various species of sparrows and finches as common birds on campus. One can see a dozen different species during a single walk between classes, according to Ward.
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In the spring, the honking and hissing of a Canada goose could interrupt that walk. These feisty birds have established a presence at the University, which serves as a paradise amid a sea of corn and soy.
“Campus is perfect,” Ward said. “Lots of green grass that’s mowed so they can eat it all day long. There’s places for them to nest. There’s water.”
Ward said the geese on campus are used to people but are still quick to hiss at anyone who gets too close. The hissing acts as a warning before they resort to biting, according to Ward.
There’s also a profusion of mammals in the area. Raccoons, opossums and deer are just a few that join the abundant squirrel population.
Nathan Proudman, postdoctoral research associate at the Illinois Natural History Survey, tracks Illinois’ mammals using cameras. A wide range of species are present on campus, according to Proudman.
“Keep your eyes open for red foxes,” Proudman said. “They’re definitely in town because we recently put a collar on a red fox, and we’ve seen their movements around.”
Proudman also said trail cameras captured gray foxes and southern flying squirrels near the University. However, the most common mammal on campus is the eastern gray squirrel.
“Squirrels are the ones you’re going to encounter all the time when you’re walking,” Proudman said. “They’re pretty adept at living in these urban spaces now.”
This wasn’t always the case. In fact, years of hunting and deforestation nearly eradicated squirrels from the state by 1900.
In 1901, geology professor Charles Rolfe and University President Andrew Draper launched a plan to return the rodents to campus.
The pair imported squirrels to the area but encountered early setbacks. Some squirrels didn’t survive the trip, while humans and dogs hunted the ones that did. Discouraged by the results, the duo abandoned the plan.
However, by 1919, the few remaining squirrels established a substantial population on campus.
Like squirrels once did, a few new species could make their way to the area soon.
Armadillos have been marching north for decades and have recently arrived in southern Illinois. In 2017, an armadillo was spotted at Urbana High School, just a mile east of campus.
Proudman also said bobcats are arriving in Champaign County but will likely avoid campus and urban areas.
No matter what species appear on campus in the coming decades, it will continue to act as an animal haven.
“There’s a lot more wildlife here than there is in other places,” Ward said. “I don’t think people recognize that, but we are lucky to have the green areas that support the wildlife.”
