Penn Squirrels Eat Things

The little bushy-tailed dumpster divers eat better than I do.

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A whole bagel, near Vagelos Labs.

(Thanks, Larisa! KEEP THE SQUIRRELS COMING, GUYS!)

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Hello! Lauren here, your behind-the-scenes tumblr author and devoted squirrel stalker. I bring somewhat sad news: I'm leaving Penn.

Over the last year and a half, it's been a privilege to bring you Penn Squirrels Eat Things. I was even interviewed about it once! But I've just graduated from my program and accepted a job in Center City, which means...

The fate of this little squirrel tumblr is in your hands.

If you keep taking pictures, I will keep posting them. I have a few left of my own, but beyond that it's up to you, Penn community, to get the shots I never could. The squirrel hopping down Locust Walk with an entire McDonald's burger box. The squirrel chowing down on a slice of peperoni pizza. These things need to be documented.

Why? I think you know why.

Because it's hilarious.

May your eyes be sharp and your smartphones be swift. Thank you for following, everyone, and good luck!

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Watermelon (Thanks, Jenn!)

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Pita.

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Plotting to hit you with a tiny, tiny snowball.

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Pay no attention, just hiding behind your bench with this muffin here.

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Soft pretzel.

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It's almost over, right?

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Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Don't forget to leave some food out for your furry friends. I mean, when it stops snowing like a nightmare.

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NOM.

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I would probably not come between this one and its apple core.

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Breakfast game: tight.

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Day in the Life of Penn 2013

One more link today: On October 29th Penn asked us all to help document what 24 hours were like here, and we were happy to see our bushy-tailed friends represented:

If you haven’t seen the full project you can check it out here.

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The Fascinating Story of Why U.S. Parks Are Full of Squirrels

A paper published by Etienne Benson from -- wait for it -- the University of Pennsylvania tells the story of how the nation's squirrel population came to be. And it sounds like our squirrel forefathers were enthusiastic eaters from the get-go:

The city had released three squirrels in Franklin Square in 1847 and had provided them with food and boxes for shelter—and the people loved it. One visitor is quoted as saying "it was a wonder that [squirrels] are not in the public parks of all great cities." In the years that followed, the trend spread to Boston and New Haven, where squirrels soon grew so fat from humans feeding them that they were falling out of the trees.

Sounds familiar. Professor Benson, we'd love to have you guest blog over here at Penn Squirrels Eat Things!

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Yeah, this is kinda what all of fall looks like. (Acorns)

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Muffin wrapper: nearly as good as an actual muffin.

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It's time to start carbo-loading. Good luck to everyone running in the Philly Marathon races this weekend!