10 Schools Still Using Live Animal Mascots

In a world where animal rights are receiving increasingly more attention and advocacy, college universities are being scrutinized for using live animals as mascots. Many college students and alumni will argue that their school mascot, whether it’s a buffalo, bulldog, or eagle, holds sentimental value and adds to the thrill of sports rivalry. However, having a live animal present is just plain cruel and completely unnecessary. Forcing animals to participate in this long-standing tradition has proved to do more harm than good.

Animals are living, sentient beings, and using them as props in order to hype up a crowd during a football game is just not right. The proximity to thousands of people and the loud sound of a roaring crowd can cause put animals under a great deal of stress. Not to mention the tragic story of Bevo and Uga. Texas mascot Bevo, a big longhorn steer nearly killed tiny Georgia mascot Uga, a small bulldog. Before the Sugar Bowl in 2019, these two were put in proximity of one another to meet before the game. However, this did not go to plan and Bevo charged at Uga, nearly attacking him. This incident easily could have been avoided if schools recognize the inhumane nature of this tradition and stick to human mascots instead. Even in the best conditions possible, subjecting live animals of all sizes and forcing them to perform in front of crowds is cruel. Here are 10 of the schools that still use live animals as mascots:

1. Louisiana State University

Mike the Tiger is the mascot of Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mike is the name of both the live and costumed mascot. They have used a series of tigers named Mike, repeatedly “replacing” each when he dies. The school has failed to keep tigers safe and is a prime example of why this cruel tradition needs to be abolished. After Mike VI was diagnosed with terminal cancer, animal advocacy groups urged the school to make Mike VI the last live mascot at LSU. The advocacy groups argued that the students are going to the games to watch top college athletes playing the best football in the country, not to see a live tiger in a cage on the stadium field. In response, the university lets Mike decide if he wants to attend the games, by giving him the choice to enter his mobile carrier cage at his own free will.

2. Baylor University

Baylor University began using live bears in 1917, and the school has used more than 50 live bear mascots since then. Not only does Baylor have one live mascot, but two. Their current bears, Judge Joy Reynolds (Joy) and Judge Sue Sloan (Lady), are biological sisters, and the first one was acquired after a military group left it in the care of the university during World War I. Both weigh almost 300 pounds and live in their own habitat on campus. Before the university built a more natural habitat, the bear pit was a mostly concrete facility. Many Animal rights groups argued that this previous man-made ‘habitat’ was inadequate and unfit living conditions for these wild animals.

3. University of Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs have had a college football team since 1956, and this is when Uga I was established as the nation’s most well-known mascot. Over time, Uga has become easily identified by his spiked collar, which serves as a symbol of the position which he holds. “Ugas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII are buried in marble vaults near the main gate in the embankment of the South stands.” Back in 2018, during the Sugar Bowl, the University of Texas bovine’s mascot, a Longhorn steer, charged at Uga. Luckily, Uga survived the incident, however, no animal deserves to be paraded around a loud crowd.

4. The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is the only school in the country with a live lion living on its college campus. Leo III resides on the UNA campus in the 12,764 square-foot George H. Carroll Lion Habitat and carries on a tradition that has covered more than 40 years.” His sister Una, passed away after serving as a mascot at UNA since 2002. In the wild, big cats spend their time traveling vast distances to hunt, seek mates, and stake out territory. In the wild, lions are known to spend most of their time traveling long distances to hunt for food, find mates, and defend their territory. However, when they are in captivity, they do not have this freedom and may suffer psychological consequences.

5. University of Colorado

Ralphie the Buffalo is the name of the live mascot of the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The “Ralphie Handlers,” who are a select group of varsity student-athletes, run with Ralphie around the University of Colorado’s Folsom football field, before each half of each home game (a tradition that has been taking place for 53 years.) During one of CU’s Spring games, Ralphie got loose and outran 3 of his handlers, plowed over another, and tried to get away. Luckily, everyone involved was okay. Despite this incident, the university claims that all of its buffaloes are well taken care of. However, this statement is not good enough for many animal advocacy groups. These groups argue that animals should be able to live their lives naturally, without being paraded around for amusement.

6. Colorado State

CAM the Ram is the mascot of Colorado State University and is cared for by a group of student volunteers called the Ram Handlers. “The first woolly mascot, a ram named Buck, made his debut at a basketball game against Denver University on Jan. 11, 1946. President Morgan officially named their mascot CAM the Ram – for Colorado A&M – during halftime at a basketball game versus archrival Wyoming in 1954. CAM has been mascot ever since.” Cam’s handlers spend most days training him through socialization. They will put on his halter and simulate kids running up to him for example. This training is designed to prepare Cam for any unusual scenarios that could take place at any moment. This psychological stress that Cam is forced to experience could all be avoided if Colorado State University switched to human mascots in costume.

7. Southern Methodist University

SMU’s live mascot is Peruna IX, a miniature Shetland pony that was named after an early 20th-century medicine, Peruna Tonic, which was said to have a ‘kick’. A Shetland pony was chosen because of its longer lifespan compared to a quarter horse. “Peruna I was donated to the school by T.E. Jones, a racetrack owner, and Cy Barnes, who felt that the 150 lb. powerhouse embodied SMU.” On Halloween in 1934, Parsons, the first official mascot (Peruna I,  1932-1934) at SMU escaped from his on-campus home and was struck by a car nearby. As cute as live mascots are, they should be banned from universities and replaced with costumed mascots in order to prevent dangerous incidents like this one from happening again in the future.

8. Massillon High School

Starting in 1970, Massillon Washington High School has been using a live tiger as its mascot. For the last several years, there has been a debate regarding this 44-year tradition and whether it is ethical or not. This controversy has made it legally more difficult to continue. The school purchases the tigers from local private exotic animal breeders, and there has also been concern about these wild creatures being discarded at the end of every season. Once they are no longer needed to entertain the crowd during football season, they are shipped off and left in captivity in other locations. Finally, at their 50th anniversary of the tradition, it was announced that the tradition of having a live tiger as a mascot will be retired.

9. University of Memphis

The “Tigers Of Memphis” is the name of three Bengal Tigers which have served as the mascot for The University of Memphis Tigers. “Since 1972, the sideline mascot for the University of Memphis has been a Bengal Tiger named Tom and that tradition comes to an end with the passing of Tom III.” During games, Tom sits in his cage and is bombarded by loud crowds for hours on end. Animal rights campaigners started a petition to end this stressful and cruel tradition. These campaigners argue that wild animals do not belong in cages and as long as universities continue with this practice, they are spreading the message that this is somehow okay. The university partnered with the Memphis Zoo to keep the tradition alive from a distance.

10. University of Arkansas

Tusk is the name of the official live mascot for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Tusk IV, is a Russian boar who has been the live mascot since the 2011 season. “He currently resides at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle. 2018-19 was his last season before entering retirement.” Tusk IV was the longest-serving live mascot in the history of the University of Arkansas, and he passed away at the age of 9 in January of 2020. Although he died of natural causes, the typical life expectancy for a boar is approximately 10-12 years. Life in captivity is a low-quality one and may contribute to an animal’s shortened lifespan.

Many universities would argue that having a live mascot is an essential part of college life and school spirit. However, it is not worth subjecting these animals to all the stress that comes with a raging crowd. Wild animals such as bears, tigers, and buffaloes just don’t belong on a college campus, or any public setting, and forced to perform in front of thousands of cheering students. Human mascots dressed in costume provide entertainment and boost school spirit, without the unnecessary animal cruelty!

Sign this petition to demand that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tell their members to ban the use of live animal mascots!

Related Content:

• A University Campus Is No Place for a Tiger! Let’s Send Mike the Tiger to Sanctuary
• Team Spirit or Animal Abuse? The Tradition of Keeping Live Animal Mascots
• Liberating College Mascots: No Live Animals! Smart People Should Know Better
• Zoochosis: What Really Happens to Animals in Captivity (VIDEO)
• Beyond the Zoo: How Captivity Affects the Mental Well-Being of All Animals
• Empty the Cages and Tanks! Here’s the Truth About the Lives of Animals in Captivity Versus the Wild

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