Smokey Bear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smokey Bear |
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Smokey Bear in a poster based on the "Uncle Sam/Lord Kitchener Wants You" poster
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| First appearance | 1944 |
| Created by | U.S. Forest Service, Advertising Council, National Association of State Foresters |
| Born | Spring 1950 Capitan, New Mexico |
| Information | |
| Species | American black bear |
| Gender | Male |
Smokey Bear (sometimes called Smokey the Bear) is a famous mascot for the United States Forest Service. He was created to teach people about the dangers of forest fires. He also shows how people can help stop them.
An advertising campaign with Smokey started in 1944. Its first slogan was "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires". In 1947, a new slogan was made: "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires". This message changed slightly in April 2001 to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires". Many adults (95%) and children (77%) in the U.S. know Smokey Bear and his message.
Smokey's real name is Smokey Bear. The "the" was added to his name in a popular song from 1952. Songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins did this to make the song flow better. This small change has confused people ever since. Also, Smokey's name is spelled "Smokey" on purpose, not "smoky."
Three groups manage the character Smokey Bear. These are the United States Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council. Smokey Bear's name and image are protected by a special U.S. federal law. This law is called the Smokey Bear Act of 1952.
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How the Campaign Started
The U.S. Forest Service worked to stop wildfires long before World War II. But the war made this job even more important. Many strong men were fighting in the war. This meant fewer people were left to put out fires at home.
The Forest Service began using colorful posters to teach Americans about fire dangers. The goal was for local communities to prevent fires from starting. This was important because Japan saw wildfires as a possible weapon. Fires could waste time and destroy natural resources in the United States.
The government decided to use a bear in its fire safety advertisements. They named the bear "Smokey." This name came from "Smokey" Joe Martin, a brave firefighter in New York City. He was hurt and lost his sight during a rescue in 1922.
Smokey's first poster came out on August 9, 1944. Albert Staehle drew it. In the poster, Smokey wore jeans and a "forest ranger's hat." He was pouring water on a campfire. The message said, "Smokey says – Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires!"
In 1944, a company called Knickerbocker Bears got permission to make Smokey Bear dolls. Also that year, Rudy Wendelin became the full-time artist for the campaign. He was like Smokey Bear's "caretaker" until he retired in 1973.
In 1947, the famous saying we know today was first used: "Remember...only YOU can prevent forest fires."
The Real-Life Smokey Bear
The real-life Smokey Bear was an American black bear cub. In the spring of 1950, he was caught in a big wildfire in New Mexico. This fire burned about 17,000 acres (69 square kilometers). The cub was in the Lincoln National Forest.
Smokey had climbed a tree to escape the fire. But his paws and back legs were burned. A game warden rescued him after the fire. At first, they called him "Hotfoot Teddy." Later, he was renamed Smokey, after the cartoon mascot.
A local rancher helped fight the fire and took the cub home. But the cub needed care from a veterinarian. A New Mexico Game and Fish Ranger named Ray Bell took him to Santa Fe. Ray's wife, Ruth, and their children, Don and Judy, cared for the cub.
News stories about the cub spread across the country, and he became famous. Soon, Smokey flew in a small plane to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.. He lived there for 26 years. He passed away on November 9, 1976.
Smokey's Popularity
Smokey Bear became a very popular character in American culture during the 1950s. He appeared on radio shows, in comic strips, and in cartoons.
In 1952, the U.S. Congress passed the Smokey Bear Act. This law made sure that Smokey's image was not free for anyone to use. Instead, it was put under the control of the Secretary of Agriculture. This meant people needed permission from the government to use pictures of Smokey.
In the 1960s, so many people wrote letters to Smokey that the U.S. Postal Service gave him his own ZIP Code. That code is 20252. Some parts of these letters have even been shared online.
Smokey's Lasting Impact
In 2004, Smokey's 60th anniversary was celebrated. Experts say the Smokey Bear campaign is one of the most powerful and long-lasting public service advertisements ever.
Richard Earle, an author, wrote about Smokey. He said, "Smokey is simple, strong, straightforward." He added that Smokey lives in the woods you visit and cares about keeping them safe. Anyone who watched Bambi knows how scary a forest fire can be. But Smokey would not run away. Smokey is strong. He would stay and fight the fire if needed. But he would rather you put out your fire so he doesn't have to.
In 2009, new commercials featuring Smokey were released. These new ads used CGI to bring Smokey to life.
Images for kids
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Smokey Bear's debut poster. Art by Albert Staehle.
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The original Smokey Bear, playing in his pool at the National Zoo, sometime during the 1950s.
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Smokey Bear eating from the new "honey tree" — a tree that automatically dispenses honey and berries – installed in Smokey's cage in the summer of 1984.
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Smokey Bear sign in Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles
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75th anniversary commemorative artwork from the Forest Service
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Smokey Bear at the 2005 National Scout Jamboree
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Smokey with Thomas Tidwell, Chief of the United States Forest Service, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
See also
In Spanish: Smokey Bear para niños
