10 Cutest Park Mascots

Name: Jasper the Bear 

Works At: Jasper National Park, Canada

Resume: Jaspar the bear became Jaspar National Park's official mascot in 1962. He is a friendly bear with a wonderful wife and two cubs. Park-goers loved him so much that he even had his own comic strip. 

Name: Parka the Beaver

Works At: Parks Canada

Resume: To celebrate Parks Canada 100th birthday last year, they introduced Parka the beaver as their new mascot. Parka was born in Canada's largest national park, Wood Buffalo National Park. It is the world's largest beaver dam too. 

Name: Freddie the Flathead Catfish

Works At: Mississippi National River, Miss.

Resume: Freddie the Flathead Catfish serves as the Mississippi River's No. 1 protector. He often teaches class about stewardship of the river. Recently, Freddie embarked on a road trip to visit other national parks, sending rangers postcards of his travels. 

Name: Ranger Ramble

Works At: Tennessee State Park, Nashville, Tenn.

Resume: Ramble the Raccoon was born in Memphis, Tenn. at T.O. Fuller State Park. Tennessee State Parks partnered with NFL’s Tennessee Titans as part of the NFL Play60 effort, which encourages Tennessee’s youth to be physically fit, eat healthy and remain active while enjoying one of the state's parks.

Name: Billy Bowman (Glacier Billy)

Works At: Glacier National Park Fund

Resume: With nearly 400 Twitter followers and his own website, Billy Bowman is quite a popular little mascot. Billy fans and visitors dedicated to ensuring the future of Glacier National Park can now buy stuffed-animal replicas of this guy.

Name: Pearl the Squirrel

Works At: New York City

Resume: Unveiled in April 2010 as the first official mascot of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Pearl was created by Disney cartoonist Adam Koford. Pearl is said to love everything New Yorkers love, including Shake Shack burgers.

Name: Buddy the Bison

Works At: National Park Trust, Rockville, Md.

Resume: Buddy the Bison is a favorite among little ones. This summer, fans can purchase a Buddy Bison of their own. Profits help send an underserved kid to a park through the National Park Trust’s Kids to Parks National Scholarship Fund.

Name: Major Muskrat

Works At: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Monroe, Mich.

Resume: Major Muskrat was named the official mascot of River Raisin National Battlefield Park when the park became a part of the National Park System in October, 2010. His popularity soared quickly. A collectible ornament was even created and given to those who donated $25 or more to the park’s youth programs.

Name: Grady the Groundhog

Works At: Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock, N.C.

Resume: For the past five years, Grady the Groundhog has hosted a Groundhog Day Celebration. This past February, Grady came out of his hut, glanced around, and after seeing his shadow, predicted that there would be six more weeks of winter. Thanks for the weather report, Grady.

Who: GO Georgia GOpher

Works At: Georgia State Parks, Georgia

Resume: GO Georgia GOpher is a brand-new addition to the Georgia State Parks team. She was hired to encourage people to “go for” a walk, a hike or a day in the park.