A live bird mascot is ruffling some feathers at Boston College, where there's an ongoing flap about whether it's OK to have an endangered species on the sidelines.
According to the Boston Globe , the awareness group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is squawking over a live bald eagle mascot at Alumni Stadium -- a tradition that returned this year after spending 47 years with its wings clipped.
PETA reportedly asked the US Fish & Wildlife Service to investigate whether Boston College's use of the bird is somehow ill-eagle ( Ed. note: sorry ) -- an organization must have a permit and an educational use for displaying a bald eagle -- and apparently the school was found to be compliant.
The Globe also reports that the unnamed 9-year-old male eagle has not actually been around the field all that much during Boston College's first two home games. He was not brought into the stadium at all for the home opener against Villanova and left after the national anthem at BC's Sept. 6 win over Wake Forest.
"We're making sure it doesn't get too excited," John Linehan, president of Zoo New England, told the paper. "If it does, we give it quiet time."
Even so, it doesn't appear the eagle-loving folks at PETA have any plan to take it easy with their criticism of the school's use of the raptor during games.
"Boston College just flunked Ethics 101 by teaching students that it's fine to exploit, disrespect, and terrify animals," PETA official Delcianna Winders told the Globe.
What do you think? Is PETA justified in calling fowl over an eagle on the sidelines? Tell us in the comments.
Now, for some links:
- How much would you pay for Michael Jordan's 'flu game' sneakers ?
- Paul Pierce says he's not done with Boston just because he's no longer with the Celtics.
- In honor of Shaquille O'Neal purchasing a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings, let's reflect back on the time he insulted the franchise (and Vlade Divac) to the tune of the Cheers theme:
- An Auburn lacrosse player is accused of stealing a truck, kidnapping a woman and hitting nine parked cars in Baton Rouge.
- Nintendo has no plans to sell the majority stake in the Seattle Mariners following the death of Hiroshi Yamauchi.
- Even babies need to unwind a little bit after winning a division championship:
I know Oakland is a small market club, but all the only beer they had for the baby was Bud Light? pic.twitter.com/EoA83N6por
-- Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 24, 2013 - Florida State is reportedly trying to stop the sale of T-shirts depicting Jameis Winston as Jesus.
- Lost Lettermen introduces us to college football's most intimidating strength coaches .
- Because I know you're wondering what Todd Helton would look like as a centaur...:
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- Vin Scully does not want a street named in his honor .
- However, UConn's tribute to Jim Calhoun does include a street named for him.
- Dell Curry can still beat Stephen Curry at P-I-G:
- Sexy Henrik Lundqvist sells shampoo in Sweden:
- George W. Bush supports Barack Obama's right to golf .
- Did Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis photobomb Dan Rooney at Sunday's Steelers game?
- BYU fans threw garbage at the referees after the team's loss to Utah:
- Six weeks out from the NYC Marathon, former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson says, " I haven't really attacked the running thing ." So training is going well, it seems.
- The NBA and the players union are reportedly nowhere close to a deal on HGH testing.
- One Alabama fan went out of his or her way to let Texas A&M to know its place among the college football elite:
This was delivered to 12th Man Foundation office TODAY from Montgomery, Alabama. Definitely @finebaum listener pic.twitter.com/8wxLf1Hop3
-- Rusty Burson (@12thManRusty) September 19, 2013 - Hakeem Nicks after going without a catch Sunday against Carolina: " I can't throw it to myself ."
- Giants coach Tom Coughlin on Nicks' comments: " That's not a smart thing to say ."
- This is what a legal kick-pass looks like:
- Chris Rainey reportedly worked out with the Chiefs and ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash .
- And the Bucs activated Rainey's former UF teammate Jeff Demps.
- A hockey player with a broken jaw is a grisly sight:
Thank you all for the support. Excited to come back stronger and hopefully better looking than a few days ago. pic.twitter.com/jyU91TMSuu
-- Sam Gagner (@89SGagner) September 24, 2013
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