Everyone knows I hate owls, and I am happy to report that Woodsy “Don’t Give a Hoot” Owl is meeting a timely and horrifying death by way of our good friends at the USDA Forest Service. In “staying with the times” the Service has decided to kill off the older, larger-size owl (above) for a much younger, trimmer owl (at right). Instead of the thick owley head, they went with a cheaper and easier-to-source-out plastic face mask, worn with a white Hanes t-shirt, size medium. And it will be a sad and long death for the owl costume, since the Forest Service, ignoring all other types of disposal, went with the tried-and-true method of burning alive. According to the symbols.gov website, the method must be carried out thusly:

1. Incinerate the complete costume within sight 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.

(via BoingBoing)

– Ian Grant