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This is pretty much a bummer. I like watching squirrels.
Students mourn beloved rodent
By TERRY LEE GOODRICH
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
DENTON -- A beloved albino squirrel has gone to gather nuts from that big tree in the sky, leaving thousands of University of North Texas students to mourn its passing.
In its two short years, the unnamed pure white creature with pink eyes brought luck to students who spotted it before exams, said graduate student T.J. Zambrano, 25, president of UNT's Albino Squirrel Preservation Society. But misfortune frowned on the squirrel Aug. 21 when a hawk swooped down on it. "The poor little guy stuck out like a sore thumb," Zambrano said.
Students will reminisce at a service at noon today near the Student Union Building, the squirrel's favorite scampering spot, university officials said.
"Some students saw the hawk and tried to shoo it away, but it was too late," Zambrano said. "Some animal control people took the body away. ...
"People constantly fed him. He had a good life."
This is the second albino squirrel that has lived on campus, he said. The first, Thelonius, inspired the founding of the preservation society in 2002 and vanished in 2003.
"We can only hope Mother Nature will bring us another albino squirrel," Zambrano said.
By TERRY LEE GOODRICH
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
DENTON -- A beloved albino squirrel has gone to gather nuts from that big tree in the sky, leaving thousands of University of North Texas students to mourn its passing.
In its two short years, the unnamed pure white creature with pink eyes brought luck to students who spotted it before exams, said graduate student T.J. Zambrano, 25, president of UNT's Albino Squirrel Preservation Society. But misfortune frowned on the squirrel Aug. 21 when a hawk swooped down on it. "The poor little guy stuck out like a sore thumb," Zambrano said.
Students will reminisce at a service at noon today near the Student Union Building, the squirrel's favorite scampering spot, university officials said.
"Some students saw the hawk and tried to shoo it away, but it was too late," Zambrano said. "Some animal control people took the body away. ...
"People constantly fed him. He had a good life."
This is the second albino squirrel that has lived on campus, he said. The first, Thelonius, inspired the founding of the preservation society in 2002 and vanished in 2003.
"We can only hope Mother Nature will bring us another albino squirrel," Zambrano said.
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