Longview considers squirrel for official city mascot

LONGVIEW, Wash. – Longview is considering making the squirrel the city’s official mascot as the furry creatures are already at the center of an annual summer festival.

The Daily News reported that the City Council on Thursday will consider a proposal to make Longview’s Squirrel Fest’s red seersucker-clad squirrel an official part of the city. The mascot would only be a title.

The proposal has been in the works since the Squirrel Fest first began in 2011, led by a group known as the Sandbaggers.

The summer festival attracts more visitors every year, and Sandbaggers President Pat Kubin estimated as many as 7,500 people attended last year.