Nests, Cameras and Community Outreach Help Hannah Protect Rare Squirrels on Campus

April 9, 2026

Hannah Haun sits on a bench in the Maxwell Arboretum in front of a nest box for the Southern Flying Squirrels.

In case you haven鈥檛 heard, East Campus has some new residents: Southern Flying Squirrels. And while you might not encounter these nocturnal friends yourself, Hannah Haun is working to monitor and study this rare species and rally our community to keep them safe.  

鈥淧rofessor John Carroll started building these nesting boxes all around East Campus after the squirrels were first discovered. I've been working with him to use trail cameras to monitor and log their activity, behavior and movements,鈥� explains Hannah. 鈥淭his is a threatened species of squirrel, so it鈥檚 pretty cool that they鈥檝e made a habitat here on campus.鈥� 

 These flying squirrels finding a home on East Campus isn鈥檛 random: Hannah says that the old trees populating our arboretum make perfect habitats.  

鈥淭hese squirrels like to live in the cavities of old trees, and we have trees here that are close to 100 years old. So, it makes sense that they鈥檙e really liking them.鈥�  

A Southern Flying Squirrel using one of the nesting boxes installed on East Campus.

Before joining his flying squirrel project, Hannah first connected with Dr. Carroll during a study abroad experience to Botswana last summer. Led by Dr. Carroll, the program found Hannah and her peers immersed in the ecosystems, cultures and conservation methods local to the region. 

 鈥淚t was such an incredible experience,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e got to meet with local tribes, learn about their communities and understand their approaches to working together to preserve wildlife.鈥�  

That mission 鈥� working together to keep our wildlife safe 鈥� is what鈥檚 driving the flying squirrel research. The presence of these rare critters has sprouted the Lincoln Flying Squirrel Squad, a group of Huskers dedicated to educating our campus and nearby communities on how to protect them.  

鈥淲e do a lot of outreach to educate the public about this little species that a lot of people don't know about,鈥� says Hannah. "We just want folks to look out for them and be mindful that the squirrels are using old or dead trees that we might initially think to remove. It鈥檚 fun a fun way to bring the campus and community together.鈥�

Hannah Haun is a senior fisheries and wildlife major from Waterloo, NE.