LSU Vet School urges visitors to obey rules around Mike VII's habitat

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The LSU Veterinary School is urging campus visitors to obey the posted signs when approaching Mike the Tiger's habitat after a video of Mike pouncing on the glass surfaced over the weekend.

The video shared on Facebook, shows Mike VII creeping up on two young men with their backs turned toward the glass.

Mike then pounces on the glass scaring the two men and the rest of the crowd outside of the habitat.

Ginger Guttner, the communications director for LSU's Veterinary School explained that since Mike is a tiger, he is "an ambush predator." When people turn their backs towards the enclosure it entices his predatory instincts.

The concern veterinarians have is that Mike could lose a tooth if he pounces on the glass.  If he lost a tooth he could be unable to eat properly or require dental surgery.

Tooth loss is the number one cause of death for tigers in the wild, according to the LSU Vet School.

Guttner said the veterinarians absolutely want people to visit and engage with Mike but they want people to do it responsibly.

She also said people should not bring any pets around his enclosure because that could entice Mike to pounce on the glass. Guttner said parents should not allow children to hold stuff animals up to the glass as that might also entice Mike.

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