While Louisiana State University’s live tiger mascot, Mike VI, is a fan favorite, he doesn’t always pounce at the opportunity to make public appearances. According to LSU vets, it’s a decision that’s completely up to him because he’s never sedated nor forced to go into the stadium.
The adult male tiger arrived on LSU’s campus in 2007. Since then, he’s appeared in 32 of the 43 home games and welcomed by roaring fans.
He would have attended more, but in 2007, LSU’s veterinarian Dr. David Baker felt the temperatures were too hot for the tiger to appear. In 2008, he attended only two games. In 2009, he missed the first home game to one of the feline’s worst fears — a wet field; a situation that repeated itself in two games in 2012.
Last season, Mike attended three games. And sometimes, the opportunity to appear at the games isn’t always the cat’s meow.
“His veterinary student caretakers have been loading Mike VI into his trailer this summer to get him ready for the LSU home games; however, he doesn’t always cooperate,” Baker said in a news release. “We know how important it is to the fans that he be in the stadium, but we can’t force him to do so, and we absolutely would never do that even if we could. Mike’s safety and well-being are most important to us, and we know that these are important to the fans as well.”
When Mike arrived at LSU in 2007, he was a 2-year-old cub. Now, he’s a mature adult, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine said, becoming cautious and less inquisitive.
Baker said that this is a sign of a purrfectly normal tiger.
“If Mike VI does not attend the pre-game festivities, it is important for fans to know that this does not mean that something is wrong,” Baker said. “Mike VI is a healthy, normal tiger.”
To check if Mike VI has loaded into his trailer for a home game, fans can go to his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MikeTigerVI or he can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MikeTigerVI.
Clint Durrett is WDSU.com's Digital Media Manager.
