Give a Hoot!

Following up from yesterday's mascot post, I'm trying to find out why different decades have a specific animal motif. Owls will forever remind me of the 70s. Why the owl? Is it because of the back-to-nature movement of the early 70s? Is it because of mascots like Woodsy the Owl?

I had one aunt who was really into macrame and another aunt that collected owls. That resulted into many beautiful wall hangings (see pic) that are still in the family's possesion.

I remember owls appearing everywhere. Wall hangings, guest towels and soaps in my grandmother's bathroom, t-shirts, and housewares.

Why did we gravitate to specific animals for a certain time? What would our animal motif be for this decade?