LSU mascot Mike the Tiger passed away today at the age of 11. The radiation treatments he underwent for spindle-cell sarcoma last spring were not able to stop the growth of his tumor, and it was announced in early October that the cancer had spread.
LSU’s Mike VI: 2005-2016
Mike VI was born July 23, 2005 at a rescue facility in Indiana. Originally named Roscoe, he arrived at LSU in August 2007 and attended his first football game that fall. Mike was a curious and playful tiger; having been raised and bottle-fed by humans before arriving in Baton Rouge, he maintained a genuine interest in his human visitors on campus. Youtube research reveals that he could be a bit of a clown, especially in front of young children, and he seemed to recognize at least one of his regular visitors. Mike VI was a reliable guest at LSU football games until last season, when he generally chose not to get in his trailer. As @MikeTigerVI told Texas A&M mascot @ReveilleIX on Twitter last season, “I am a cat and I do what I want”.
When not entertaining visitors, most of what Mike wanted to do involved strolling his habitat, snoozing in the Louisiana sunshine, playing with his various toys, or going for a dip in his pool. LSU provided him with a home that is second to none, and his caretakers did a wonderful job of making sure he had plenty of enrichment in the form of new and different toys and occasional changes in his habitat to explore. Mike VI was a beloved member of the LSU community and will be sorely missed.
Main Photo:
