Originally Posted by
alan s
What’s the story behind Oregon’s mascot? I mean, ducks don’t exactly command respect or instill fear in anyone. Or am I unaware of a lurking danger? Neither do beavers, but at least they could gnaw on you. What’s a duck going to do, quack at you?
Oregon, of course, has a wet season and a dry season (at least in the Willamette Valley). So... Ducks (& Beavers).
Apparently the "Ducks" have a long history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oregon_Duck
Beginning with some pioneers nicknamed the "Webfoots". The early mascot was "Puddles" the Duck, but eventually merged with Donald Duck back in the 1940's.
Oh, and the Oregon Duck is apparently the only school mascot to visit Disneyland.
Due to some controversy a decade ago, the formal Disney trademark relationship was severed in 2010.