The human-sized cocoons popping up across campus aren't mutant bugs trying to take over the world. They're hammocks.
Rob Davis, sophomore in hotel and restaurant management, said he bought his hammock to go backpacking.
"Once I had it, I was like, 'Ah, all the things I can do with this.'"
Davis said he usually goes out at night. With a hammock, he can go camping any time he wants.
"It's really awesome when you're in it because you look like a bat or something hanging from the trees," Davis said. "Or you can pretend like you're a caterpillar, going into a cocoon."
Mac Mosher, junior in pre-nursing, also enjoys some good quality time in a hammock.
"I use it to study," Mosher said. "I'll set up outside my dorm. It's kinda nice because you can lie down in it or if you sit sideways in your hammock, you can use it as a chair."
Mosher said his favorite spot is just off Haley Concourse, but if he is going with a group of friends, they go to Samford Lawn.
"They've got a couple more trees, so you can hang up multiple hammocks," Mosher said.
Davis said a good hammock costs about $90. Most people use the Eagle's Nest Outfitter's brand.
"It's kinda contagious," Mosher said. "It's definitely a fad right now."
Aaron Nette, sophomore in pre-nursing, bought his hammock to use during backpacking as well.
"But since I don't get to backpack every few months, I wouldn't want to waste the money on a hammock," Nette said. He also uses it on campus about twice a week.
"Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I like because I get out of class around two and I normally don't have anything else going on the rest of the day," Nette said. "It's a great way to relax after class and study."
However, Charlie Crawford, superintendent of landscape services, said the practice can be extremely harmful to the trees.
"Some of our really most precious resources out there are being destroyed by these thoughtless individuals," Crawford said.
Depending on how the hammock is hung up and what kind of tree the hammock-user chooses, the tree can become damaged. That would be destruction of state property.
"Our trees are some of the most beloved things on campus," Crawford said. "Often they connect it to smaller limbs and so forth that are stressed and crack and break, and then the tree becomes deformed. We've had a huge problem with this."
Crawford said he has never seen anyone hanging hammocks in the trees, only the damage that is done.
"If I saw someone doing that, I would be compelled to call the police immediately," Crawford said.
Nette said some hammocks could damage the trees, depending on what kind of support was used and how they were hung.
"However, for the ENO hammocks that many students use, the type of support is a strap, instead of something like a rope, which I believe causes more damage," Nette said. "The strap allows the pressure to be spread out and not as pressing on the tree, in my opinion."
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