An Outdoor Interim

The past few weeks I have been enjoying my interim independent study class for what it is and not so much as for what it was supposed to be. The official title of my owner built course is Animal Photojournalism. What this entails, I soon found out, is photographing anything with a heartbeat on campus. The idea seemed easy enough. What I did not realize was that the actual quest was going to be much more interesting than the goal. The people I was to meet and the places I would find myself were unimaginable to me when I began.

On the very first day that I left Ytterboe with photographic intent I realized just how different things were going to be. Moments after walking out the door I heard a rustling and scratching in the nearby dumpster. Figuring a squirrel was digging in the trash, I quickly set up my camera for a shot. I waited and waited.......and waited; but nothing came out of the dumpster. So, with camera ready, I slowly crept forward, inch by crunchy inch (when you are sneaking up on something every sound has the significance of a cannon shot--or so it seems). I finally arrived at the dumpster only to find that the squirrel in question was stuck in the dumpster!! There was no trash (because of Christmas break--thus no students--thus no trash) for the squirrel to use to jump out on after it had jumped in. It was stuck, not only with itself, but with another dead squirrel that evidently had the same poor luck. The squirrel, to stay alive, had become a cannibal and had eaten parts of the dead squirrel to remain alive.

I knew at this point that I had uncovered a great squirrel scandal here on the squeaky clean St. Olaf Campus. These squirrels, because of their self-imposed dependence on humans for food, were victims of oversight by many. Though over populated, these squirrels deserve some form of civil justice and so, with great delight, I put a long stick in the dumpster for the little furry creature to escape.

After I had put the stick in the dumpster, Phil, the master of custodial arts for the third floor of Ytterboe, had seen what I had done and came out to chat with me. He said that this happens often and that many times the squirrels not only get stuck in the dumpsters, but that their heads often get fatally stuck in the small drainage hole. This especially happens when the dumpsters are empty of trash. If you are walking by a dumpster feel free to poke your nose over the edge and see if any furry friend is in dire need of assistance. It will make your day, trust me.

peace

J