&sq=&lang=&file=File:Piebald_Squirrel_Pinto_Bean.jpg) Pinto Bean in Champaign, October 2022 | |
| Species | Eastern gray squirrel |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Died | October 8, 2022 Springfield Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Motor vehicle collision |
| Known for | Distinctive 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]
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.