Baby raccoons, a host of squirrels, red-tailed hawks and pileated woodpeckers have taken up residence in Sitterly. The animals, with whom we share our forest, have moved into the ceiling, cozied up on fire escapes and crawled into the walls as spring settles in. The faculty note that the new residents have caused only minor disturbances and that the English Department will use the current circumstances to foster interspecies collaboration, practice seeking out the positive and inspire empathy. A children’s book about the critters is also in the works.
Professors on the third floor, which is dedicated to office space for writing studies and creative writing faculty, were the first to notice that some sort of animal had moved in overhead. They were alerted to the animal’s presence by sounds of scurrying in the ceiling tiles, the pitter patter of footsteps and shadows cast over the lights mounted in the drop ceiling.
The first theories about the noises included birds that had found their way into the space between the ceiling and the building’s roof, yet close observation and a photo taken by Professor Dorothy Chang made it clear that a family of raccoons was the source of the noises. Facilities was quickly alerted.
Facilities’ investigation into the ceiling revealed that a family of raccoons had moved in and was raising their young above the third floor offices. Because of the presence of baby raccoons, the decision was made to let the young grow up and move out of the space on their own accord. This decision ensures the safety of both the young raccoons and anyone potentially tasked with trapping them.
The raccoons are staying at least through the summer, and once they vacate the building, the holes they used to enter the space will be repaired.
In the meantime, the writing department’s affected are taking the circumstances in stride. Dr. Sondra Jamyson, the director of Writing Across the Curriculum, pointed to the community-building opportunity the furry friends have granted the English department. Sittlery is kept lively with weekly emails containing updates about the raccoons, photos being shared and hallway conversations.
The excitement has presented a few different outcomes.
First, the faculty of Sitterly have become avid wildlife enthusiasts. Close observation has revealed that various other animals have taken up residence in different parts of the building. A red-tailed hawk is known to perch on the fire escape. The hawk has not been seen up close but was identified via close examination of the droppings it left behind.
A pileated woodpecker, first heard drilling into the side of the building, was identified as well. The large woodpecker species caused quite the ruckus and inspired research into the question, “Why don’t woodpeckers get concussions?” As it turns out, their brains are too small, which may also be the reason this particular woodpecker is attempting to search for food in the walls of Sitterly as opposed to one of the many trees in the Forest.
The most active (and annoying) residents are the squirrels that move into the walls of Sitterly every spring. The squirrels frequently make rather distracting noises and chew through the wiring. Tension between the squirrels and the humans is currently on the rise. Creative writing classes and writing studies seminars frequently use the classroom in Sitterly, and squirrel-related disruptions are regular occurrences. The interspecies peace is still a work in progress on the first floor. Yet, as the situation arises every spring, the faculty seek a long-term solution to ensure coexistence.
As the weather warms, animals who call Drew home look for a safe, sheltered place to raise their young. Drew’s historic reputation is built around the Forest. To maintain this reputation, it is only right to allow these animals to find peaceful coexistence in our buildings.
Sitterly occupants, raccoons, woodpeckers, squirrels and red-tailed hawks will make further efforts to seek out this peace. The faulty would like to open their windows without fear of their offices being invaded. Further negotiations are being made to seek sustainable solutions and ensure harmony for all involved.
That 1950’s Chick is majoring in general and minoring in convenience.
Featured image courtesy of Pexels.com.
