"Give a hoot, don’t pollute".

That’s what Woodsy the Owl used to say.

I guess that message no longer conforms to the Bush Administration, who now wants to do away with the environmentally-correct mascot.*

In fact, they really want to do away with him.  Here are actual instructions from the USDA Forest Service website:

Destroying Old Woodsy Owl Costumes – Guidelines

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

* Okay.  They’re not really doing away with Woodsy Owl.  They’re just updating his look, so he now has a new costume. 

Still, one wonders why the old costumes have to be burned to a crisp and "destroyed beyond recognition".  I guess we don’t want them to fall into enemy hands.