Feeding Squirrels: A Spectator Sport

West Texas A & M University accommodates thousands of students, at least hundreds of employees, and (estimated) scores of squirrels. When my father attended WTAMU—then West Texas State University—he and I would regularly visit campus to feed these tree-dwelling rodents. He lifted me against the tree trunks to deposit nuts the furry creatures would discover later. Earlier this semester (Fall 2016) I engaged in a more direct pursuit: feeding the squirrels by hand. After numerous walks around campus and countless hours of patient determination, some of the squirrels are now conditioned to run toward the sound of my crinkling pecan bag. Many of them are now children chasing my musical ice cream truck. Passers-by (of the human variety) often turn their heads, stop to watch, and occasionally comment. The biological sex of the squirrels and the gender of the spectators seem to dictate the different types of responses my wildlife feedings elicit.

Both male and female squirrels, it probably goes without saying, love pecans. The males, however, do not exhibit as much tolerance for humans as their female counterparts. Weeks of auditory conditioning, in a manner similar to Pavlov and his dog, have trained some of the squirrels to seek the rustling sound of my pecan bag. Many of them, both male and female, will eventually come near enough to take food from my hand. The males approach with a fierce skepticism; the females, while still somewhat reluctant, are more apt to hop onto a bench or table to beg for their treats. None of the squirrels allow themselves to be touched (and who would want to?), but some females, and none of the males so far, will gently touch the hand that feeds them, grabbing a finger to pull the food closer. When, as has happened on more than one occasion, multiple squirrels simultaneously seek food, their dynamic depends on the sexes of those involve. A male, for example, will somewhat aggressively chase away a female, while two males tend toward fighting. Two females, however, often take turns; the first will scamper off to eat or bury its pecan, cueing the second to approach.

Similar behaviors occur in human spectators. Women, though not exclusively, are more likely to stop, observe, and even comment something like “that’s so cute” or “how adorable.” (And I must agree: it is pretty adorable.) Men, on the other hand, comment less frequently. When men stop to watch the spectacle, they usually do so from a distance. I have received a few smiling approvals and several curious, wondering glances. One young man, from what I could discern, took either a photo or video of me feeding a squirrel on campus; perhaps, unbeknownst to me, I am an internet sensation—or laughing stock— somewhere on social media. I suspect the public display of a man feeding small animals may appear, to many people, quite feminine. The reactions of other men seem to a display of dominance, though certainly more subtle than the physical altercations of the male squirrels. Men are much more likely to approve, vocally or otherwise, when in the presence of women. This phenomenon occurs most often when men are with their spectating significant others; however, I have noticed similar results when women are simply nearby. One young man in particular shouted from a distance, “I’m impressed,” and then gave an approving thumbs-up. He walked with a group of other young men, which I would not expect to outwardly acknowledge the act; however, they were in the vicinity of a group of young women. I suspect the young man’s approval was, at least in some way, a hopeful attempt to display an endorsement of empathy or compassion to the young women.

If I am correct about that young man’s intentions, I consider my ongoing experiment a success. I had hoped to demonstrate to people that the confines of their social experiences can be broken—that while we function within a society of human beings, we are merely part of a larger set of systems. Empathy and compassion, even if used for the entertaining sake of feeding campus wildlife, provide the link between our societal system and a vast many others, each of which integrate and, if not depend on each other, can certainly share a mutual respect.