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| Mike the Tiger
For home football games, both Bankston and Tunnard assist in transferring Mike from his home to his portable cage. Mike is then given a ride to Tiger Stadium for the pre-game festivities. Even the LSU mascot feels the rush of game day excitement. “He knows exactly what is going on,” said Tunnard. “He waits right at the gate before we lift it, and as soon as there is some room, he squeezes his body through to the other side. We never have to coax him into the trailer because he is excited to get in it.” Being Mike’s caretaker team is a demanding commitment for the two students, both of whom are enrolled for 27 credit hours, including course work and lab work. Aside from their full-time veterinary student status, neither of them can leave Baton Rouge for an extended period of time. It is the only job that they both agree is worth working 365 days a year. Tunnard and Bankston’s term will end in 2004, when two new veterinary school students will receive this honor. “It’s been really neat to get to know a cat like that. Mike really has a personality,” said Kevin Bankston. Written by Katiana Johnson | Public
Relations | Senior
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Every
two years, 
Current
veterinary students Blake Tunnard and Kevin Bankston willingly accepted
the responsibility of being Mike’s caretakers. Their commitment
is a serious one since they must care for Mike every day for the
next two years. Tunnard and Bankston visit Mike daily to feed him
a special diet for large felines, administer medicine if needed,
and clean his habitat. Both students use a variety of exercise techniques
to keep the feline physically active including hiding his food to
tap into his hunting instincts. This tradition of quality care has
allowed LSU’s line of mascots to live longer than the average
wild tiger.
Neither
of the students get inside the cage with him, but this has not stopped
them from petting Mike. “Sometimes he lies against the wires
of the cage and we can scratch his back,” Tunnard said. Both
students agree that Mike recognizes each of them. Mike is familiar
with the sound of Tunnard’s truck and the feisty feline begins
pacing as soon as he sees Turnnard walking toward the cage. 
