The Osprey

Talon, the Stockton Osprey mascot, appears at events around campus.
Talon, the Stockton Osprey mascot, appears at events around campus.
The College Council reports on the selection of the osprey as the mascot in 1972.
The College Council reports on the selection of the osprey as the mascot in 1972.
Ozzie the Osprey cheers on the team at one of the sporting events in the Athletic Center in the 1990s.
Ozzie the Osprey cheers on the team at one of the sporting events in the Athletic Center in the 1990s.
Talon, a later version of the costumed mascot in a white and black costume, made his debut in 2007.
Talon, a later version of the costumed mascot in a white and black costume, made his debut in 2007.

The Stockton mascot, the osprey, is native to the region and has been saved from extinction by the campus community which stresses environmental protection, eco-friendly activities and preservation. A raptor native to the South Jersey area, the osprey was selected by the College Council as the college's mascot in 1972 from among 45 possible options. The Department of Athletics and Recreation had suggested the name 鈥淧ineys,鈥 but in the spirit of shared governance, submitted the issue for consideration by the Council. The student newspaper, Argo, endorsed the 鈥淢arbles.鈥

The costumed osprey mascot first appeared on campus in 1981 as a brown bird with a yellow beak, performing at pep rallies and cheering on the at home games. He was named "Ozzie" in 1983. Talon, a later version of the costumed mascot in a white and black costume, made his debut in 2007.

The osprey mascot is unique in higher education, as Talon is one of only two osprey mascots in the United States. His cousin Ozzie represents the University of North Florida.

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