Pinto Bean (squirrel)

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Pinto Bean
Piebald Squirrel Pinto Bean.jpg
Pinto Bean in Champaign, October 2022
Species Eastern gray squirrel
SexMale
DiedOctober 8, 2022
Springfield Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Cause of death Motor vehicle collision
Known forDistinctive piebald pattern, media appearances and tributes
Residence University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Pinto Bean was an eastern gray squirrel on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who was renowned and named for his rare piebald pattern. He died in Champaign on October 8, 2022, presumably due to a motor vehicle collision. [1] Pinto Bean has been called a "minor celebrity" [2] and a "grassroots, unofficial mascot" for the university. [1] During a home football game against Minnesota, a tribute to Pinto Bean was shown on the jumbotron at Memorial Stadium. [3]

Contents

Pattern

A male eastern gray squirrel, [4] [5] Pinto Bean was named for his distinctive mixture of gray fur with patches of unpigmented white fur, which resembled the appearance of pinto beans. [1] According to Illinois Natural History Survey director Eric Shauber, this was the result of a rare genetic mutation that affected where melanin was distributed in the squirrel's body. [6] Shauber said the mutation was rare enough to assume that there was only one such squirrel on campus. [1]

Death and taxidermy

Taxidermy of Pinto Bean on display at the Forbes Natural History Building in Champaign, March 2023 Pinto Bean taxidermy.jpg
Taxidermy of Pinto Bean on display at the Forbes Natural History Building in Champaign, March 2023

Pinto Bean was found dead on the side of Springfield Avenue in Champaign on October 8, 2022. [7] His cause of death was presumably a vehicular collision. [1] [2] News of his death quickly spread on the r/UIUC subreddit and other social media. One user, Champaign resident Clark Jackson, retrieved the squirrel's remains and delivered them to a taxidermist in Bloomington in an effort to preserve the squirrel. [2] [8]

As of March 27, 2023, Pinto Bean's taxidermied remains are on display at the Forbes Natural History Building on the south side of the university's campus. [9]

Tributes

During Illinois's October 15, 2022, home football game against Minnesota, the jumbotron at Memorial Stadium displayed a tribute to Pinto Bean at halftime. [3] The screen displayed an image of Pinto Bean, accompanied by the message: "RIP to Pinto Bean the Squirrel, forever in our hearts." [3]

The Illini Wildlife and Conservation Club held a moment of silence in remembrance of Pinto Bean. [1] Students and community members shared many tributes and eulogies on r/UIUC. [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Simmons, Ethan (October 13, 2022). "Farewell to 'Pinto Bean,' UI's precious piebald squirrel". The News-Gazette . Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zimmerman, Bradley (October 12, 2022). "U of I students mourn death of rare squirrel". WCIA.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Schofield, Mark (October 15, 2022). "Illinois football's best season in years is a tribute to a beloved squirrel named Pinto Bean". SBNation.com . Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sheppard, Lisa (April 18, 2023). "Celebrated squirrel's legacy lives on for visitors". Prairie Research Institute . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ Mentrek, Chris. "What type of squirrel looks like this?". Geauga Park District. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ Brennan, Amanda (September 6, 2022). "Meet the piebald squirrel running around the UI campus". WCIA.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ Salas, Lillie (October 17, 2022). "In loving memory of Pinto Bean". The Daily Illini . Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ Buckley, Alyssa (October 14, 2022). "Rare campus squirrel will be preserved through taxidermy". Smile Politely — Champaign-Urbana's Culture Magazine. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Zimmerman, Bradley (March 27, 2023). "Famous squirrel memorialized on U of I campus". WCIA.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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