100 Objects #8: Billy Possum

Americans historically transform animals into cultural symbols, oscillating between demonizing them as threats and empathizing with them as vulnerable icons. Journalist Jon Mooallem traces this phenomenon, starting with the 1902 teddy bear, which shifted public perception of bears from dangerous monsters to cute, pitiable creatures. In contrast, the "Billy Possum," marketed to represent William Howard Taft, failed because it lacked a compelling narrative and the animal itself lacked inherent appeal. This pattern of symbolic projection reappeared in the early 2000s when environmentalists utilized the polar bear to catalyze public concern regarding climate change. While the polar bear successfully captured the public imagination and set records for government petition engagement, it ultimately struggled to force legislative action against greenhouse gases, demonstrating the limitations of relying on animal symbols to solve complex, systemic environmental crises.