The sound of my feet hitting the bricks is rather pacifying.

Every exhale is perfectly aligned with

another breath and with every movement forward, I gain the courage to bring my gaze slightly higher.
Left. Right. Left. Right. I can see the blades of the grass now. Each blade is equipped with its own shape
and form--a snowflake of the ground. The sun radiantly shines, illuminating the little spheres of water
precariously resting on the sharp blades of grass. What an ever opposing relationship the two forms of
nature seem to hold. The uniform valley of green might feel overwhelmingly vast for most, but I find
comfort in the consistency of the waves.

Left. Right. Left. Right. My eye line inches slightly higher. I notice the thorny, dense shrubs surrounded
by the vivaciously colorful array of flowers. Even though the flowers sway from the pressing wind, they
do so without any sense of anguish. They dance in synchrony as if they are putting on a recital for passing
onlookers. Blossoming, they proudly unite as representations of nature’s artwork. As a heavy gust of wind
passes by, nudging its way around me, the aromatic smell glides into my nose, and I inhale excitingly,
expectant of a joyous compilation of scents. The myriad of tightly packed smells overwhelms my senses
and I quickly exhale to abate the odd combination. While strong, the smells are evocative. They emit a
stimulating complexity that allows me to reminisce on provoking memories from the small meadow by
my home. My remembrance is ephemeral, gone as quickly as it came.

Left. Right. Left. Right. My eyes climb higher and higher, trying to find the top of the canopying trees.
Halting, I follow the squirrels anxiously scurrying around the branches. My vision sharpens as I track the
playful creatures against the gnarled and aged bark. The rich chestnut grooves splintered in an almost
intentional manner, a chaotic display of coherence. The tree’s armor is reminiscent of the coarse hands of
a miner or mechanic, rough yet unapologetic. The branches effortlessly intertwine with one another,
casting jagged shadows among the pathway, and cause leaves to be scattered haphazardly. The acorns
accessorize the trees, decorating them with nutrient-packed food that the squirrels lustfully desire.

Left. Right. Left. Right. A bird catches my attention as it delicately swoops by me. It’s feathery wings
create an illusion of buoyancy, almost giving me the courage to jump and hope gravity releases it’s
unrelenting grasp. One bird joins the rest, swallowed by the whole group, hesitantly waiting before
chirping a melodious tune. It is a symphony of perfection and one that we don’t even have to pay to hear.
The clouds move at a peaceful rhythm as if they are conducting the rest of the world’s movements. They
act as a foreground to the sky’s infinite canvas that is the sky, adorned with sporadic arrangements of
clouds morphing into shapes and figures upon my very eyes. The combination of the two seem almost
angelic, and the sun’s power only strengthens this illusion. Light dances delicately on my fingertips, and I
wiggle them, manipulating where the light hits.

These combinations of nature are just one part of a campus--my campus, at Elon University. Blue lakes,
preserved land at Elon Forest, working farmland through Loy Farm, and scattered signage indicating the
botanical garden status. Does a suburban campus truly support wildlife?

“Definitely yes,” Dr. Ryan Kirk said without hesitation. Dr. Kirk, an Associate Professor of Geography
and Environmental Studies at Elon University, works closely with Elon Forest and shared information
about both the vegetation and wildlife on campus.

Elon Forest was established back in Oct. 2010. The Elon University Board of Trustees dedicated 56 acres
of land to be the official Elon University Forest. Some trees found in the hardwood section of the land are
estimated to be around 150-200 years old. The forest is not only home to trees but also safeguards
thousands of plants, animals, and other organisms. According to Dr. Kirk, the forest intentionally doesn’t
have running trails or a parking lot. While the land is in a prime spot to be developed, there is a strong
commitment to protection. “Elon provides habitat and opportunities for wildlife,” Dr. Kirk said.

On campus, there is an intentional focus on vegetation. Elon strategically employs the concept of green
space. Green space refers to how the campus is sprawled out with pockets of forest that allow wildlife to
flourish. This allows more vegetation to be planted in these pockets which increases natural growth. The
pockets of forest also allow animals to stay hidden in their habitat during the day and hunt during the
night.

When compared to other universities, like the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Elon provides
many more opportunities for wildlife to flourish. UNC has the exact same boundaries as Elon and
continues to add buildings. But, by placing buildings without regard to natural life and growth, they are
densifying.

Other ways of upholding the vegetation and increasing plant diversity is through Loy Farm. Loy Farm
focuses on native plant species and the development of soil. The leaves, for example, are raked and
composted since they are filled with nutrients, called detritus, that benefit the soil. Then, plants will bring
in other necessary contributors to the environment, like bees.

Loy Farm has a wide number of functions and activities. These include food and farming system, the
Design Build Studio for Responsible Architecture, the Piedmont Prairie Ecological Restoration Project,
and long-term ecological research. Wildlife is even interconnected within the food and farming system as
there is a focus on the development of beehives, implementation of a new Heirloom Apple Orchard, and
the studying of wildlife ecology.

Elon even instills a mindset of wildlife conservation into their students through the creation of programs
and courses. One notable class is called, “ART 339 ECO ART.” The main focus of Eco-art is to address
the current environmental crisis. The course catalogue highlights the creative expression necessary when
“combining art with environmental ethics and ecology.”

It is important to educate students about the range of wildlife on campus, even if it begins with one class.
Many students do not realize the animal species present on Elon’s campus are unimaginable. Students
comment on the influx of squirrels and hawks on campus but do not acknowledge the other species
present that they interact with every day. According to Dr. Kirk, this can be attributed to the existence of
cryptic and nighttime active animals. Cryptic species intentionally hide and are hard to find. “Unless
you're looking for them they're not there,” Dr. Kirk said.

For example, Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. David Vandermast, drew attention to the unseen mosses
and lichens on all of the trees as well as the diversity within the soil. Dr. Vandermast went on to list a few
overlooked elements of the soil including fungal mycelia, bacterial colonies, nematode populations, and
small animals. He continued by mentioning the ponds, not only with fish and amphibians, but also algae
and cyanobacteria. He also touched on the hundreds or thousands of insect species that live in terrestrial
and aquatic habitats on campus. “It’s important to understand that people are surrounded by thousands of
other species every time they step outside,” Dr. Vandermast said.

Professor David Gammon has conducted annual bird counts in Elon Forest in previous years, and his
findings confirm that there are many more species on campus than believed. Many students note the
presence of the hawks and even cardinals, but neglect to mention the nearly two dozen other species of
feathered creatures home to the forest. Some examples of these species include the Carolina chickadee,
downy woodpecker, pine warbler, red-eyed vireo, American goldfinch, and many more. “The forest is
ours, but it’s also not ours,” Professor Gammon said in a previous interview with Elon News Network.
“And that’s a beautiful thought.”

While Professor Gammon agreed Elon is good for wildlife that thrive in a human-dominated habitat, he
does not think the university supports the species that thrive better in deep forested habitats, like
woodpeckers. “Elon is most interested in whether the habitat is attractive to humans than whether it
attracts wildlife,” Professor Gammon said.

Another element of campus that seemingly contributes only to the aesthetic of the campus is its botanical
garden status. However, it’s recognition by the National Wildlife Federation and purposeful support of
species, argues otherwise. The process of establishing a botanical garden began in November of 2004
with former university president, Leo Lambert. He signed a resolution that declared Elon’s more than 600
acres a botanical garden, allowing the school to be a member of the American Public Garden Association.
The development of the botanical garden has fostered the growth of various plants and drawn in many
animal species. “As a botanical garden, Elon uses plants that produce a lot of flowers and fruits, so that
attracts many insects and birds,” Professor Gammon said. There are 78 different Genus of trees and 182
different Species on campus.

The lakes are another part of Elon’s effort to help wildlife. The three main lakes located on campus are
Lake Mary Nell, Lake Verona, and South Campus Lake. The stormwater irrigation system in place allows
for runoff rainwater to go into the three different lakes. While this system benefits the environment
because it decreases the need for imported water, the lakes suffer from a misnomer.

The lakes are artificially dyed a deep blue color and many believe this is to uphold the aesthetic of the
campus. This dye is purposefully used to protect against blue-green algae, scientifically known as
cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria is extremely toxic and harmful to species who interact with or drink from it.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals published an article about the danger of
dogs coming in contact with Cyanobacteria. “If blue-green algae is ingested, it can cause severe
neurologic or liver damage.”

When debating if Elon properly supports wildlife, it is equally important to consider the impact humans
have on the wildlife around campus. Dr. Vandermast explained the concept of self-selected wildlife to
address this concern. The animals on campus are here because they respond well to people. Conversely,
the animals that do not do well with human contact will not be found on campus. Therefore, the species
still present on campus have either adapted to become desensitized to human presence or were unbothered
in the first place.

Overall, Elon seems extremely supportive of wildlife on campus. Elon strives to have an aesthetically
pleasing campus which may only cater to specific flora and fauna, but still provides a space for natural
growth so wildlife can thrive. Elon implements numerous different programs and measures to ensure the
safety and conservation of the other species that call Elon home.