Life in Leeds

Meet the animals of campus and beyond!

By LucyMcDonald 11 Apr 2024

Now that spring is upon us, you may have noticed more of our fuzzy and furry friends joining us on campus. Have you met all of the animals on campus and beyond?

The Heron

If we’re talking about iconic campus creatures, we have to start with the big boss. Usually spotted around the pond outside Roger Stevens, this bird means business. Loved by all, feared by goldfish, and known as somewhat of a lucky charm for students studying in the Roger Stevens building, Heron McHeron Face (named via poll back in 2022) is so famous that they even have their own Twitter account!

Frosty and Rita at Clarence Dock Village

Famous around the residence and beyond, Frosty and Rita are two magnificent Dachshunds who live at Clarence Dock with their human (and our Warden) Jan. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Kissy Boy’ and ‘The Boss’, their adventures are well documented on their Instagram page, and these two can often be found running around at the residence’s events, stealing sausages from the BBQ, going on walks with students and just sitting with their hair blowing in the wind majestically.

Bunnies

When you see these little cuties making an appearance, you know you’re gonna have a good day. With some of them being more fearless than others, you’ll spot them all over campus green spaces in the Spring and Summer months. They’re quicker than they look, so if you want to snap a pic of one, slow movements are key as these fluff balls will bolt if they get spooked. What would we do without the campus bunnies hopping around and spreading joy?

The Peregrine Falcon (and her eggs)

As the star of everyone’s favourite bird-based live stream, the Peregrine Falcon is wildlife royalty at the University. Peregrine Falcons have been nesting on Parkinson Building since 2018, and usually visit from February to March to lay their eggs. The sustainability service has set up a camera so you can check in and take a look at the falcon and her nest.

Chickens at Devonshire Hall

Chickens in halls might sound a bit random at first, but these im-peck-able mascots for Devonshire are ex-battery chickens who have been given a new lease of life at the residence. Students at Devonshire have the chance to interact and volunteer to care for the chickens, and their presence certainly makes the residence a lot more lively!

Ducks (and ducklings)

As if having ducks chilling on campus wasn’t great enough, we also get the yearly bonus of the ducklings being born! These guys love the University so much, they have their own house here on campus. Often seen competing for the spotlight with the local Heron, these guys can be found in the pond by Roger Stevens.

Hedgehogs

The University of Leeds achieved Gold Hedgehog Friendly Campus status last year, and for very good reason. Teams have worked to protect habitats by planting hedgehog-friendly greenery, tracking active hedgehogs to keep an eye on them, and even building them their own hotel at one of our residences. Hedgehogs are currently on the UK Red List due to their vulnerability to extinction, so the work the teams across the University do to protect these little guys is more important than ever!

LucyMcDonald Marketing Executive for Residence Life. Fun fact: I'm a Leeds native and I specialised in VFX and CGI before having a career change and getting into the wonderful world of Marketing!
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