A few Louisiana politicians are pushing for LSU’s live Mike the Tiger mascot to debut on the sidelines of Death Valley, multiple media outlets are reporting.

An article originating from the Louisiana Illuminator outlines Gov. Jeff Landry and three other Republican politicians met with the dean of LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Oliver Garden. Among the items discussed was bringing Mike back into the university’s football stadium during matches.

Those other politicians who met with the dean of LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine are Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, state Sen. Bill Wheat of Ponchatoula and state Rep. Wayne McMahen of Minden. All three men are also veterinarians. 

“LSU will not bring Mike VII to the Nicholls game and is not in discussions to bring Mike to any games this season,” spokesperson for Mike the Tiger and the School of Veterinary Medicine Ginger Guttner said in a statement to the Illuminator.

Guttner told the Reveille in summer 2023 that Mike the Tiger is housed on LSU as a sanctuary-habitat. 

She said the university takes a stance against the breeding of tigers for entertainment and that lots of special care is taken in Mike’s day-to-day.

Most of Mike’s fans are exceptionally respectful and protective of him, Guttner said.

According to the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the tradition of bringing the live tiger mascot into the stadium ended when LSU adopted the current mascot, Mike VII, in 2017. His 15,000-foot enclosure is valued at $3.7 million.

The foundation says that by providing housing for Mike, who needs it, the foundation and university can educate the community on problems of illegal and irresponsible handling of tigers.

LSU’s tiger mascots were paraded around sporting events prior to that, a tradition dating back to the ‘30s with Mike I.

LSU’s keeping of a live tiger mascot has been a source of criticism from animal activist groups over the years, famously the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA has petitioned the university to release its mascot for years.

LSU is far from the only college sporting a live mascot. The University of Colorado is home to Ralphie the Buffalo and the University of Texas at Austin hosts Bevo, a Texas longhorn.

Many other colleges’ live mascots are more conventional to captivity, like dogs. Mascots like Texas A&M’s Reveille, a purebred Rough Collie and Mississippi State’s Bully, an English bulldog, come to mind.

All of these mascots make regular appearances on their respective college football fields.

The Reveille is awaiting comments from LSU, the School of Veterinary Medicine and Gov. Landry’s office.