BATON ROUGE ? LSU may have Mike VI, a new live Bengal tiger mascot, in his habitat across the street from Tiger Stadium by the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8, but for now you can only call him, "Roscoe." LSU recently acquired Roscoe, a two-year-old male Bengal tiger from the Great Cats of Indiana sanctuary in Idaville, Ind., but he must be quarantined and observed by veterinarians for two weeks in the non-viewable night house of LSU's $2 million tiger habitat next to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. "We want to make sure he will like his new habitat and be able to adjust to his new environment," LSU veterinarian Dr. David Baker said at a press conference Monday. "That's why we have the quarantine. A move like this is a very stressful time for any animal, especially a tiger." The quarantine began on Saturday, and Roscoe could be ready for a new name and for viewing by the Virginia Tech game a week from Saturday, but he won't be carted around the stadium during the game. "It will not be in his best interest for him to be at either of the first two home games," said Baker, who is concerned about the level of stress that 92,400 football fans could place upon the tiger. "Roscoe could be at some games later in the season. What will be the first one, I don't know." LSU's second home game is Sept. 15 against Middle Tennessee, followed by a Sept. 22 home date with South Carolina and coach Steve Spurrier. Baker and LSU officials do not want to refer to Roscoe as Mike VI just yet. "If something would result in him not being Mike VI, then it wouldn't be appropriate to call him Mike VI," Baker said. "That's why we're not releasing any pictures of him." Mike V died last May of renal failure following emergency surgery to remove fluid from his lungs. He was 17, which was nearing the end of the life expectancy of a Bengal tiger. Baker searched for months for a new tiger and "investigated several dozen Tigers." This created quite a buzz around the LSU vet school. "Everyone has been talking about it since we heard they brought him here," third-year vet student Marie Chartier of Boston said. "We don't know a lot about him. They've kept everything quiet, but we know he's a very big one." Astrid Bigio, a third-year vet student from San Juan, Puerto Rico, said she thinks Baker will be glad when Mike VI is finally named. "Oh God, yes," she said, "because all the students keep asking him about Mike VI. Dr. Baker basically gets attacked by us. Everybody wants to know when we can see the new tiger." The Indiana sanctuary is anxious to have its native Roscoe at LSU, too, as it put a message on its website: "Great Cats of Indiana and its Founders are honored and privileged to become a part of LSU's rich history by being in position to provide a tiger that is worthy of the distinction of becoming LSU's mascot." Baker said he could not be happier at this point with Roscoe, who if cleared to be Mike VI is expected to be LSU's largest mascot ever as he is expected to reach a full-grown weight between 600 and 700 pounds. "Roscoe is a very good looking tiger," Baker said. "He's well muscled. He's extremely well proportioned. He has all his teeth. He's very handsome. He's awesome, and I don't use that word a lot." Roscoe has already showed a lot of personality as well. "He is extremely inquisitive," Baker said. "He is extremely confident, interactive and friendly toward people. He shows no sign of fear. When he entered his enclosure, he walked in like he owned it." Link To Original Article
