# Do any sports teams have living, real animals as team “pets” or “mascots” or “ambassadors” or what have you? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 23, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414 "2025-08-23T16:54:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/81 "2025-08-29T21:47:08Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > My alma mater, the University of Florida, does not have a live alligator mascot Anymore. > [@](#): > > A live alligator named Albert first appeared at football games during the 1957 season, and served as the mascot of the football team on the field before the costumed version of Albert became the mascot in 1970.[[1]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_and_Alberta_Gator#cite_note-1) > **[Albert and Alberta Gator](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_and_Alberta_Gator)** > > Albert Gator and Alberta Gator are the official mascots of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Costumed in plush, Albert and Alberta are Florida representations of American alligators, which are commonly found throughout the state of Florida. > The University of Florida fielded its first official intercollegiate sports team (football) in the fall of 1906. It adopted orange and blue as its official colors, combining the blue and white of the former Florida Agricultural College in Lak... ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/82 "2025-08-29T21:51:30Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Anymore. A recurring theme in this thread, in fact. A number of examples have been of schools and teams which did once have live animal mascots, and set them aside (primarily in the 1960s and 1970s) for costumed mascots. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/83 "2025-08-29T22:10:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Despite being officially called the Crimson Tide, their mascot is an elephant, [for reasons](https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/trads-elephant-html). Of course, in Alabama, the tusks are looser. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/84 "2025-08-29T23:05:03Z")
One of those Time-Release Jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/85 "2025-08-30T01:40:52Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > A number of examples have been of schools and teams which did once have live animal mascots, Yep. Kansas State, home of the Wildcats, used to carry a large cat around the field or court before each home game. In a cage, fortunately. But that stopped around 1970, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/86 "2025-08-30T01:45:29Z")
My high school’s Bengal tiger cubs were actually in the late 90s, so I guess we were behind the curve, there. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/87 "2025-08-30T04:53:03Z")
Colorado lost to Georgia Tech tonight. Their mascot wasn’t on hand. From ESPN: > [@](#): > > Colorado: Missing from the field [was Ralphie VI](https://apnews.com/article/ralphie-mascot-colorado-deion-ec91d21af442561d1bb5a7f9de33d1f8), Colorado’s live buffalo mascot who retired from running earlier this week. Hopefully Ralphie VI will have a comfortable retirement and not end up as bison burgers. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/88 "2025-08-30T13:12:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Colorado lost to Georgia Tech tonight. Their mascot wasn’t on hand. Cause and effect, perhaps? > [@Jackmannii](#): > > bison burgers. Bison meat is actually quite tasty and extremely lean. /endhijack ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414/89 "2025-08-30T16:31:38Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Bison meat is actually quite tasty and extremely lean. I bought some from a local farm years ago (like $8 per pound 😮 ) and I found it bland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-sports-teams-have-living-real-animals-as-team-pets-or-mascots-or-ambassadors-or-what-have-you/1022414.md?page=4)