183 Posts
Tell us what wildlife you see on your campus? Do you have efforts in place to protect or inventory species?
4 Replies
4 Posts
The FGCU campus is a living laboratory of biodiversity. Two outdoor classrooms scheduled for use this fall. Check out the university's website for details on the various wildlife documented: www.fgcu.edu/CAS/CEM/index.html.
2 Posts
I was actually concerned about the biodiversity and landscaping on my university... until I did more research. Turns out Appalachian State University uses entirely natural fertilzer for the grounds which comes from the leaf litter and the campus compost facility. Additionally, our landscape is "curated' with indigenous plant species. Tree preservation is a big thing, and it's a good thing too because we Mountaineers love to hammock and climb trees.
http://sustain.appstate.edu/initiatives/campus-initiatives/landscape-services
Went to the edible schoolyard the other day and head caretaker mentioned that we might have deer eating some of the plants. Other critters - racoons, possums, skunks, etc - abound.
http://sustain.appstate.edu/initiatives/campus-initiatives/landscape-services
Went to the edible schoolyard the other day and head caretaker mentioned that we might have deer eating some of the plants. Other critters - racoons, possums, skunks, etc - abound.
2 Posts
At Western Michigan University, Steve Keto, the Natural Areas and Preserves Coordinator is working with students to improve campus connectivity for wildlife. We have been trying to improve habitat for animals on campus and facilitate mobility for animals between parts of campus and the community separated by roads, parking lots, etc. A professor at the University of Michigan, Dr. Ivette Perfecto has some really interesting papers and a book on increasing and improving the natural matrix on an agricultural setting to help pollinators and other wildlife be able to move between habitats. A great read co-authored by her is called Nature's Matrix.
On our campus this winter we spotted a snowy owl (many came far south and this one unfortunately died the next day). We also have deer, including a 10-point buck, wild turkey, a family of red foxes, and even osprey and bald eagles have been sighted. A local artist in Kalamazoo made a documentary highlghting the urban wildlife in Kalamazoo called Animals Amongst Us. The train tracks and undeveloped areas that go through our town serve as wildlife cooridors which allows people to see awesome wildlife from campus and the city.
On our campus this winter we spotted a snowy owl (many came far south and this one unfortunately died the next day). We also have deer, including a 10-point buck, wild turkey, a family of red foxes, and even osprey and bald eagles have been sighted. A local artist in Kalamazoo made a documentary highlghting the urban wildlife in Kalamazoo called Animals Amongst Us. The train tracks and undeveloped areas that go through our town serve as wildlife cooridors which allows people to see awesome wildlife from campus and the city.
2 Posts
Personally I see a lot of chubby little squirrels, but i know there are some deer, red fox, an eagle or osprey and some racoons. They aent on the acctuall St. Cloud campus except the squirrells, but theyre on the beaver islands on the mississippi river. We own the islands, so still our campus! There are no efforts currently on biodiversity or anything on campus but i would love to put one in place!
