Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News

It could be a couple of the squirrels that have begun to traverse the campus once again as spring returns. There have also been groundhog sightings in the vicinity.

Whichever type of rodent turns out to be the culprit, the victim is clear: those iconic yellow pansies that grace the university's front entrance. The M.

As university landscape workers gear up for the annual Maryland Day in April, they are fighting a wily enemy that is threatening to mar one of the most universal symbol of school pride.

William Monan, the assistant director of Landscape Services, believes it's squirrels nibbling at the vulnerable flowers. He calls them a "constant aggravation."

Monan said the Facilities Management pest control crew is investigating two reports of a groundhog strolling through the center of the campus. They suspect he may be living in the foundation of the Math Building.

In the meantime, some have begun to notice wear and tear on the "M."

"I think the M is cool," said junior public health major Asma Mohamoud, who passes the flower bed on her commute to the campus. "Every morning, when I look at the M, I think, 'Wow, I'm at Maryland.' I need to see the flowers bright."

Of the hungry rodents, she said, "I want them to go."

There is some evidence to suggest a groundhog could be doing the damage. A typical groundhog snack consists of vegetables, flowers and fruit, said Prince George's County Animal Control officials.

But experts from the university's Home and Garden Information Center said it's hard to be a groundhog this time of year because there isn't a lot of vegetation. Pansies may be the tenderest thing to eat.

Animal Control said groundhogs are prevalent in many areas of the county, especially areas in which construction is chasing them from their natural habitat.

Joel E. Manspeaker, a manager in Landscape Services, is skeptical of the idea, though.

"It's such a wide-open area," Manspeaker said. "If we find a burrow, we will set up box traps. [The groundhog] could have just been walking through."

Manspeaker said it's uncharacteristic of groundhogs to be roaming such a highly traveled location.

Tom Bryant, assistant manager of Landscape Enhancement, who oversees planting of the flower beds on the campus, said he was concerned with the state of the pansies in the M, but backup procedures have been made.

Landscape Services will have to replant another round of yellow pansies to last until the planting of the red begonias, which are typically planted about the time of graduation.

Animal Control officials agreed that the only thing to prevent a groundhog from feasting on the M is to set a trap and removing him from sight. However, they said he should be left alone if he's not doing any structural damage to buildings or acting disoriented, which could be a sign of rabies.

Some students hope the groundhog will still be around to enjoy the pomp on the campus.

Elnatan Reisner, a graduate student studying computer science, said he hasn't noticed and doesn't think the effort of removing the groundhog is necessary.

"It's not that big of a deal," said junior Anthropology major Nour Kuzbari as she gasped thinking about what fate may befall the rodent. "Leave the groundhog alone."

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