Mike the Tiger, LSU's live animal mascot, used to be a staple during home games at Death Valley. Now, it's been nine years since Mike made an appearance in the stadium, but Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry wants to change that, despite pushback from veterinarians.
According to the Louisiana Illuminator, Landry and three state officials who are also veterinarians met with LSU dean of veterinary medicine Oliver Garden about bringing Mike the Tiger back for home games. Despite the meeting, it seems like Mike VII will not be visiting Death Valley on Saturday anytime soon.
Ginger Guttner, LSU veterinary school spokeswoman, told the Illustrator there are no plans for Mike VII to make live gameday appearances.
"LSU will not bring Mike VII to the Nicholls game and is not in discussions to bring Mike to any games this season," Guttner said.
Rep. Wayne McMahen (R) was one of the officials in the meeting, and he said the LSU veterinarians were concerned about how the stimuli of the Death Valley atmosphere would affect Mike VII.
"I just think that the concerns that the [LSU veterinarians] expressed was, how are we going to train an 8- or 9-year-old tiger without stressing him and jeopardizing his health," McMahen said.
Before LSU stopped bringing Mike the Tiger to games, the school received criticism from animal rights activist groups like PETA. The last time a live tiger was brought into Death Valley was in 2015, when Mike VI was there for the game against McNeese State.
Mike VI died in 2016, and Mike VII has never made a live gameday appearance.