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A deer spotted from the pedestrian bridge over Bizer Creek. Photo: Cory Nealon
By Alexandra Saccone
Undergraduate English major
Published July 17, 2023
UB is always a little quieter during the warmer months, when most students are away for summer break. But those who are on campus have a front-row seat to spectacular wildlife sightings and encounters. From close proximity sightings of skunks in the evening to large ravens attempting to climb into windows, many in the UB community have a story to tell about the wildlife on campus.
UB is fond of its animal visitors, with some even becoming a beloved attraction. Nestled atop the Mackay Heating Plant, the large tower on the east side of South Campus, is a family of peregrine falcons, whose nesting box provides entertainment each spring via the UB Falcon Cam.
To get an idea of the specific kinds of wildlife that have been seen on campus, University Communications surveyed a few dozen North Campus employees in June. Results unsurprisingly revealed that 100% have sighted wildlife while working on campus, and 60% have interacted with wildlife in some capacity. The survey asked staff members about the types of animals they have seen, if they have had interactions — and to describe those interactions — as well as how safe they feel interacting with wildlife on North Campus.
Crofts Hall, home to University Communications, Purchasing and Procurement, and Financial Services, sits just far enough away from the heart of North Campus and close enough to Bizer Creek to host some spectacular views of UB’s wild spaces. For those working on this side of campus, the sightings just keep coming, often in the middle of the workday. Building manager Kelly Stich noted that ravens and turkey vultures love to hang around Crofts. She recalled hearing of them sitting on lampposts and at the front of the building to greet employees on their way to and from work, as well as attempting to climb into office windows in the afternoon.
When it comes to keeping wildlife out of buildings, staff sometimes step in to help. Hugh Jarvis, digital product technical specialist with University Communications, recalled escorting a garter snake from the Crofts lobby. Jarvis has also had some interesting experiences with wildlife while trying to enter and leave the building, something he shares in common with many staff members. “A coyote played tag with me in the parking lot outside of Crofts Hall, and turkeys mugged me in that same parking lot,” he said.
Wildlife can be seen all over North Campus. Christopher Hollister identified several locations he has had luck in: in and around Lake LaSalle, the Ooze Fest mud pit, Ellicott Creek, and the site of Wolf’s Mill on St. Rita's Lane.
Sandy Geffner, coordinator of the environmental studies program, explained why UB’s North Campus is conducive to a variety of wildlife.
“We have forested environments, especially through Letchworth woods. We have open field environments, and we have a variety of aquatic environments, streams, lakes, ponds and the lake,” Geffner said.
“We’ll often see skunks, raccoon or fox — usually red fox — deer, possum, and we have a good coyote population here and a good wild turkey population as well,” he said.
“Of course, everyone knows that the waterfowl is around all the time. So we see geese and a variety of duck species.”
Various water fowl and birds spotted by UB staff.
UB employees who responded to the survey confirmed Geffner’s observations, with all of them reporting having spotted geese and many of the other animals he mentioned. Additionally, more than three-quarters of respondents reported seeing species other than those Geffner listed, among them carp, egret, turkey vultures, beavers and turtles. Geffner explained that most of the animals living in these diverse habitats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the early morning and the evening. “Although, of course, there are exceptions to every rule. I've seen skunks here in the middle of the day,” he said.
One of the most common wild animal sightings at UB, spotted by 83% of those surveyed, is wild turkey. These sightings, Geffner said, are thanks to UB’s pristine Letchworth Teaching Forest. Letchworth is considered a climax forest, where the woods have fully developed through all stages of growth, with a healthy canopy layer of old trees that shade out the shrub and herb layers endemic to younger forests.
Turkey friends around North Campus.
Wild turkeys feed heavily on the nuts from the old trees that grow in Letchworth woods, so the birds can only be sustained by forests in their highest stage of development. Geffner also cited gray squirrels as another species that thrives in climax forests. “The rest of the animals we see here prefer younger forested areas, which have more food and shelter to sustain them,” he noted.
The presence of wild turkeys can cause trouble for some working at UB, particularly those in Crofts Hall. Kristen Kowalski, graphic designer for UBNow, said three young turkeys surrounded her car in the Crofts parking lot and had to be chased away.
In the same lot, Rebecca Farnham, creative director for University Communications, said a turkey attempted to get into her car.
Crofts Hall seems to be a hotspot for turkey activity, as Doug Sitler, associate director of national and international media relations for University Communications, responded with his own story. “While walking into Crofts Hall early one morning, there was a large turkey sitting on the stair railing leading into the building,” Sitler said. “I cautiously walked right past it ... but I was ready to run, if needed.”
Turkey hazards in Crofts lot.
The majority of those participating in the survey said they felt prepared to handle a close encounter with a wild animal on campus — which is good news, since 40% of survey respondents reported seeing coyotes in various parts of North Campus. Erin Moscati, sustainability education manager for UB Sustainability, reported an encounter with a coyote on the pedestrian bridge over Bizer Creek. “I stood completely still. I was in awe of how beautiful its coat was. As soon as I made a move, it darted into the brush,” she said.
Similarly, Christopher Hollister, head of scholarly communication for University Libraries, recalled having a stare-down with a coyote. Despite their close encounters, both Moscati and Hollister said they feel fully equipped to handle an interaction with a wild animal on campus.
Geffner said it is possible that even more dangerous animals, like black bear from the Allegheny population, could be spotted in the suburbs of Western New York — even around UB. But, he said, bear sightings are more common in the Southtowns.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation asks that anyone who sees wild turkeys during the month of August report the sightings here. Black bear sightings should be reported to a local non-emergency number.