Gabriel King/ Fourth Estate

Multiple sightings of peaceful wildlife on campus as the fall comes to an end

BY VIVIANA SMITH, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Have you seen some furry friends roaming the Fairfax campus lately? 

Besides the geese, ducks and turtles at Mason pond, there have been several reported sightings of wildlife such as foxes and deer on campus. 

In a reddit post on the subreddit r/gmu, user “Funky_Fruit_Saled” shared a video of a fox outside of Innovation Hall. “To whoever posted the video with the fox, I saw one jogging near Innovation Hall the other day,” they wrote. 

Several users responded, sharing their own sightings. “I saw that same fox when I was walking down the strip yesterday! I see it everywhere too,” one user commented. 

More recently, a fox was reported outside Innovation Hall again, this time even closer to people walking around campus. In a reddit post, the fox was shown running behind the bike rack and sniffing the ground as onlookers casually walked by. 

Some users noted how calm the fox appeared in the video. “Literally the first fox I’ve ever seen be this comfortable around people,” one user commented. “I hope they’re treated kindly.”

According to The Humane Society of the United States, “when people repeatedly approach wildlife, the animals may lose their natural fear of humans through a process called habituation.” The perceived comfortability of some of our wildlife could imply that they are simply used to the Mason lifestyle– they know you have a lab in 20 minutes!

In addition to fox sightings, deer have been popping up around campus, enjoying the gentle fall air before it gets too cold. 

Viviana Smith/ Fourth Estate

On Oct. 22, a small deer was spotted near Mason Pond, grazing on tufts of grass in the mulch. Onlookers took pictures from a respectful distance before moving on. 

The Fairfax campus is home to plenty of critters– so many that they are a part of the Mason experience. It’s not uncommon to encounter a curious squirrel between classes or to see birds flying around the Johnson Center atrium during the lunch rush. For commuters, it’s important to stay vigilant while driving– you may spot a deer running across the road!

Despite the coexistence of humans and wildlife on campus, it’s important to remember to keep a respectful distance from all animals. 

Fall is the ideal time for wildlife to begin preparing for the winter, so it’s typical to see a slight rise in animal activity and sightings as we say “goodbye” to autumn. As winter slowly approaches, let’s try to enjoy the last few weeks of comfortable weather alongside our furry friends at Mason.