As you can imagine, not everyone is happy about a college having a live bald eagle, particularly the animal rights community.

Jonathan Dame of USA Today reports.

Boston College gains bald eagle mascot

Boston College joined the ranks of many other universities who have live mascots when they received a bald eagle this month. Students are excited, but animal rights activists are upset.

For the first time in 47 years, a live bald eagle is inspiring students and fans before home football games at Boston College.

Owned by the World Bird Sanctuary, the 9-year-old bird is the school’s first live mascot since 1966.

“This is a huge opportunity for environmental education,” says BC senior Olivia Nowinski, who interned at the Philadelphia Zoo this summer. “Everybody loves seeing an animal, but more than just getting people ready for a game it’s about introducing people to a species they might not normally encounter or appreciate.”

In reviving the live-animal tradition, Boston College joins the ranks of more than two dozen colleges with live animal mascots — from bulldogs and ponies to lions and tigers.

The University of North Alabama permanently houses two lions — siblings Leo and Una — in an enclosure tucked between the school’s administrative building and presidential residence.

Sophomore Kelsey Hyche says it’s almost impossible to walk around campus without seeing the pair, although they sleep most of the day.

“They usually always have an audience, no matter what time you go around,” she says.

Louisiana State University has a similar setup for another type of cat: a 500-pound tiger named Mike, its sixth consecutive live mascot since 1936.