The US Government is deadly serious about obliterating the old, superior Woodsy Owl from the face of the earth and from our memories.
“The Destroying Old Woodsy Owl Costumes Guidelines” at www.symbols.gov are grim and final. The fact that they are displayed alongside a photo of a blissfully innocent old-school Woodsy frolicking in a meadow is especially disturbing.
1. Incinerate the complete costume with the oversight of an official USDA Forest Service law enforcement officer*.2. The entire Woodsy Owl costume including each of the separate pieces is to be destroyed beyond recognition.
* If you do not have access to an official USDA Forest Service law enforcement representative, arrangements will be made for dealing with your costume by contacting the USDA-FS Washington Office at:
Woodsy Owl
C/o National Symbols Program
P. O. Box 96090
Washington, D. C. 20090-6090
What did Woodsy do to deserve this? Link
Sam Kelly says:
I noticed on the Woodsy site there’s a feedback form.
Hopefully we can barrage the program with enough hate mail that they will at-least stop telling people to incinerate the old costumes. Also how exactly is incinerating Woodsy costumes sposed to be “environmentally friendly?”
Robert says:
I noticed on the Woodsy site that you can get permission to use your old style costume in a museum or historical display. I find this odd. On one hand they seem to want all traces of the previous design utterly obliterated, but also consider them worthy of histroric display and preservation?
Patrick says:
Regarding the destruction of the Woodsy Owl costumes I can think of two possible reasons:
* A terrorist might obtain a Woodsy Owl costume, then masquerade as a government official to access restricted areas before detonating himself.
* An adult film performer might obtain a Woodsy Owl costume and use it to produce child pornography.
You can never be too careful.
Tom says:
About 2/3rds of the way down this page they explain the reasoning behind woodsy’s update: “A slim and trim Woodsy Owl now sports a backpack, hiking boots, a t-shirt, and field pants–a look that is smart and safe for exploring the great outdoors.”
Basically, the old woodsy was fat and went running around in the woods with no shoes on. Someone decided that this was a bad message to send to kids… I guess someone forgot to remind them that he’s an owl.
Wendy Seltzer says:
You’ve left my favorite part out from the Woodsy Owl stories to date: He’s got his own sections of the U.S. Code.
16 U.S.C § 580p. “Woodsy Owl” and “Smokey Bear” characters and names; …
(1) the term “Woodsy Owl” means the name and representation of a fanciful owl, who wears slacks (forest green when colored), a belt (brown when colored), and a Robin Hood style hat (forest green when colored) with a feather (red when colored), and who furthers the slogan, “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute”, originated by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture … Link
And it’s a federal crime to profit from the image:
18 U.S.C. § 711a.
Whoever, except as authorized under rules and regulations issued by the Secretary, knowingly and for profit manufactures, reproduces, or uses the character “Woodsy Owl”, the name “Woodsy Owl”, or the associated slogan, “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute” shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Link
How many other mascots can say that?
Ap Lad says:
It’s a good thing Woodsy is an owl and not a phoenix, or the USDA folks about to immolate him would be in a heap o’ trouble, as this illustration I created indicates.
numlok says:
Hey there, thanks for the Symbols.gov “feedback” link.
I thought you might enjoy the “catch phrase” I used in my submission to them…
“Give a hoot, keep the old suit!”
BTW: This whole issue reminded me of John K’s “The Death of Form” (which I believe you posted some time back)
Previously on Boing Boing:
• Woodsy Owl now seriously sucks Link
• Woodsy Owl update Link