Beyond Bulldogs: Animals at Tech 

Perched upon his portable in the back of our campus, physics teacher Mr. D often looks for company in the frequent murder of crows. They have become such an important part of his life that he often dreams of training an “arm bird.” He has had success training bluebirds at home, so he is very hopeful. But his aspiration has not worked out due to the pandemic and the fact that many crows around Tech are too afraid of humans.

But don’t get the wrong impression; Tech crows are dangerous. Aside from being wild carriers of H5n1, the avian bird flu, those “50 crows on the line…are teenagers,” and teenage crows, like their human counterparts, “form gangs…That’s actually when they’re aggressive, …and they do shenanigans and get into mischief.” 

However, Mr. D does not expect any trouble in close quarter combat.

“It’s just a crow,” he says nonchalantly. “You can punch a crow.”

Crows aren’t the only animals around Oakland Tech: there are also Seagulls, bearded dragons, fish, mice, and so many more. However, most of the Oakland Tech creatures aren’t quite as punch-able as the crows.

Seagulls are one example of an animal you should not punch. You may have seen them flock over the field, sit atop the Boy’s Gym, or in some cases, carry off small freshmen to their nest so they are not to be trifled with.

Mr. Higgins, a 10th grade PE teacher, depicts them in Jurassic-Park-like terms.

“I’ve seen them be able to open containers,” he says with a mixture of awe and horror, “as well as get through cardboard.”

Objects almost the seagulls’ size are not free from theft. Mr. Higgins has seen them take on large pizza boxes and brownie containers and sometimes drop remnants to unlucky students below. But while he preaches caution, he still emphasizes that they are a part of our life that we just have to put up with.

“I think in general most people just accept that they’re here and that it’s possible that something falls on them,” he states.

Aside from the wild flocks of birds that roam the campus, there are also class pets that form an important role in the Oakland Tech animal community. Ms. Rose, a Health Academy Physiology and Human Body Systems teacher, has a bearded dragon named Poncho. She had always wanted one as a class pet because “they’re really friendly, they’re really hardy, and they have a lot of personality.” 

Poncho certainly has a big personality. “He’s very stubborn,” Ms. Rose noticed. “He eats vegetables, and then he gets his bugs, but a lot of the time he will refuse to eat his vegetables because he just wants bugs.”

Despite his sassy attitude, Poncho has become a beloved member of the Oakland Tech community. Some students come in every morning to check on him and help feed him before their classes. 

Dr. Augustine, the Janus House Biology teacher, takes a less personal approach to caring for his pet fish. 

“I teach biology,” he remarked. “Fish don’t use human names; they’re just fish.”

However, his two fish do have a species name: Jack Dempsey Cichlid. And even though they are “just fish,” the two of them have survived a lot to still be in Dr. Augustine’s classroom today. He started with five fish, but three of them were slowly picked off. 

“One jumped out, one got killed, and then another one was about to get killed, so I gave it to Mr. Reggie,” he recalls 

The fish are very aggressive, so Dr. Augustine does not plan on getting any replacements until the two current fish die.

Mice, on the other hand, don’t tend to get the same respect as some of the class pets. The A Building has had a particularly long relationship with mice, and Mr. Stubblefield, who teaches in Room A4, has conflicting feelings about them.

“Mice are mice, and they’re just doing what they’re supposed to do,” Mr. Stubblefield reflects. “I just don’t like existing with them.”

When he has to trap and dispose of the mice, he tries to be as respectful as possible. “When we spot them, we name them… to honor them.” The names are typically inspired by characters from whatever book the class is reading.

Beyond the mice, bearded dragons, fish, seagulls, and crows, Oakland Tech also has guinea pigs, dogs, bugs, and so much more. And never forget, we are all surrounded by the Bulldog spirit, especially in Mr. Barney’s face.