Main Library Exhibits
Preview
Creation Date
10-1-2025
Description
In October 2025, University Libraries and the First Regional Library (including the Lafayette County-Oxford Public Library) participated in Project Squirrel, a SciStarter affiliate project.
Display case included an original cartoon by Marshall Ramsey, photos from University Marketing and Communications, and squirrel-themed knickknacks and tchotchkes provided by library employees.
Official description from SciStarter.org:
Project Squirrel is calling all citizen scientists of all ages to count the number of squirrels in their neighborhoods and report their findings. The goal is to understand tree squirrel ecology. Some neighborhoods may have grey (and "black" squirrels, which are almost always grey squirrels!), fox, and red squirrels while a nearby town only has one species. In many places, it seems one species or another is becoming more common. Learn how to identify these three tree squirrels then report your observations about their presence or absence and some of the ecological conditions of your neighborhood.
Anyone can participate in Project Squirrel. No matter where you live, city or suburb, from the Midwest to the East Coast, Canada to Mexico, the U.K. to Italy, if tree squirrels live in your neighborhood, you are encouraged to become a squirrel monitor.
The scientists at Project Squirrel will also use this project to understand the effect that participation in citizen science has on participants and data quality. By contributing to Project Squirrel and documenting your experience, you can provide valuable information that will eventually be used to learn how valuable citizen scientists are to the advancement of scientific knowledge as a whole.
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