U. Michigan club is nuts about campus squirrels

By Alex Kirshenbaum, Michigan Daily/UWire

Published Sept. 18, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN -- Ann Arbor has some of the friendliest squirrels around. A fact not at all hindered by the 780 students who have joined a club committed to feeding them.

University of Michigan’s Squirrel Club, founded in 2002 by students Jason Colman and Justin Hyatt, aims to feed and maintain the community’s squirrel population, according to the club’s president, Engineering sophomore Peter Feng.

“Jason and Justin just brought it up randomly and were just talking about squirrels, and thought it would be cool to have a squirrel feeding club,” Feng said.

The club meets each Sunday at 4 p.m. outside the Hatcher Graduate Library, Feng said. During the meetings, members seek out and feed hungry squirrels.

Feng explained the “technique” of feeding squirrels that the club teaches new members.

“Obtain the peanuts, and then make a clicking noise with your mouth, and then wave your arm up and down that has the peanut so that the squirrel can see it,” Feng said. “Then you bend down so the squirrel can take the peanut from your hand.”

Members say they typically join out of compassion for Ann Arbor’s chubby furry critters. Though he initially joined because his friend Feng convinced him to, Engineering sophomore Jake Askari said he was taken by the joy of squirrel feeding from the first meeting.

“It’s fun to do, and it gives them food,” he said. “And they like food.”

Feng said he thinks the Ann Arbor squirrels play an integral role in campus life, and the club serves as a means of keeping them alive and growing.

“You don’t really find any friendlier squirrels around,” he said. “And we think it’s healthier for them to eat peanuts than the garbage they eat.”

Those who hope to do more than feed squirrels will be disappointed, though. When asked if the club has any goals aside from feeding the squirrels, Feng said, “No. None at all.”