BATON ROUGE - LSU announced it has identified a prime candidate for its next mascot.

LSU's attending veterinarian identified a male juvenile rescue tiger. The university says the 9-month-old tiger weighs 160 pounds and has both Siberian and Bengal tiger characteristics.

The school began renovating the Mike the Tiger habitat in April, shortly after Mike VI died of cancer. The renovation are expected to be completed in August, just before the start of football season.

The young tiger is in need of a new home. He currently resides at a sanctuary formerly known as “Animal Adventures” in Florida. The sanctuary has undergone a change in ownership, resulting in a reduced number of animals being kept on the property.

LSU says it cannot state at this time exactly when the tiger will arrive or when he will be introduced to the LSU community, as these details depend upon construction completion, travel arrangements and the quarantine/acclimation period.

The university says Mikes IV, V and VI were all donated to LSU from rescue facilities. LSU has not purchased a tiger since Mike III in 1958.

LSU is also pursuing accredited sanctuary status. Whether LSU eventually obtains official tiger sanctuary status or not, LSU will still function as a tiger sanctuary. Accreditation is not necessary for LSU to obtain a tiger.