Smokey Bear turns 80 today, Friday, August 9.
in honor of his efforts to educate Americans about its importance for eight decades fire safetyRead on to learn eight fun facts about America’s most beloved mascot.
His message of fire safety The Great Outdoors According to the U.S. Forest Service, the issue is as important today as it was 80 years ago.
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Here’s what’s worth knowing.
1. He replaced Bambi
When Smokey Bear joined the U.S. Forest Service in 1944, he had some big shoes to fill (i.e., hooves).
Before Smokey’s introduction, Bambi, an animated deer, was the star of the Forest Service’s fire prevention campaign.
Walt Disney “Bambi was loaned to us,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Robert Westover told Fox News Digital in a video interview.
“For the first year, Bambi (the fire extinguisher) was the image, but Walt basically said, ‘Yeah, you guys have to come up with your own image,’” Westover said.
Smokey Bear was soon created and officially licensed US Forest Service On 9 August 1944.
2. There is no ‘The’ in his name
Smokey Bear’s name is just that: Smokey Bear, Westover said. He’s not “Smokey the Bear.”
“That’s a common misnomer,” Westover said.
Part of the blame lies with folk singer Eddy Arnold, whose 1955 song was titled “Smokey the Bear.”
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“He sings ‘Smokey the Bear’ because he thinks it fits the rhythm better,” Westover said.
“So it’s kind of stuck in the national consciousness, but it’s really ‘Smokey Bear.’
3. Smokey Bear is a World War II child
In the 1940s World War II“There was a lot of concern that America’s forests were at risk from enemy attack,” Westover told Fox News Digital.
,Our Forests “Forests are a very important resource,” he said. “And so this was also a genuine effort to make sure that we, as citizens of the United States, don’t burn our own forests.”
Shortly thereafter, the concept of Smokey Bear came about.
4. There was a ‘real’ Smokey Bear
While Smokey Bear is typically seen today as a portrait — or as a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — at one time, there was also a real bear known as “Smokey Bear.”
Westover said the surviving Smokey Bear was an orphaned bear cub. new Mexico Which was badly burnt in the fire.
“He became the living image, or rather the embodiment, of Smokey Bear,” he said.
Smokey Bear spent the rest of his days at the National Zoo as “by far the most popular exhibit at the National Zoo.”
5. He is one of the most recognizable people in America
Smokey Bear’s popularity extends far beyond the National Zoo.
Surveys show that a large majority of adults are familiar with Smokey Bear and his messages promoting fire safety and wildfire prevention.
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The Advertising Council, which helps manage Smokey Bear’s image, reported in 2019 that 96% of American adults recognize Smokey Bear’s catchphrases.
“He’s really popular, and he’s a great ambassador for wildfire prevention,” Westover said. “He’s kind of a gateway bear, if you say, for getting people interested in our wonderful, great outdoors.”
6. Their slogan has changed
Today, Smokey Bear’s message is “Only you can prevent wildfires.”
However, this hasn’t always been the case; in fact he has been saying the phrase since 2001.
From 1947 until April 2001, Smokey Bear’s message was “Remember… only you can prevent forest fires.”
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And before that, there was the slightly more verbose article “Smokey says precautions would prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires.”
Westover said Smokey Bear’s message changed because not all fires are necessarily bad.
“Some natural fires are good, and some man-made fires are bad,” he said. “And especially what I like to call ‘stupid fires,’ when we go into the woods and act careless.”
7. His message is still relevant even after so many decades
Smokey Bear’s message about preventing wildfires is still essential today, Westover said.
He said “Smokey’s message has always been about being responsible on your own,” such as making sure campfires are completely extinguished before leaving a campsite, avoiding smoking in the woods and even securing chains on a vehicle trailer.
“The sparks (from the pulling of chains) can cause wildfires and grass fires,” Westover said.
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“About 90% of fires are started by people,” he said. “So when you’re out and enjoying our great outdoors, it’s really important to keep that in mind. It’s our responsibility, all of us, to keep these things safe.” beautiful wild land For the next generation.”
8. He inspired other fire prevention mascots around the world
Smokey Bear’s success also resulted in other countries and municipalities adopting new symbols related to fire safety.
“Bertie Beaver” serves as the fire prevention symbol of the Alberta Forest Service in Alberta, Canada, the Alberta government website states.
Canada is also home to “Ember, the FireSmart Fox,” who “teaches Canadians how to apply FireSmart principles to their homes and properties to make them more resilient to the threat of wildfire,” according to the website for the national program FireSmart Canada.
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In England “Wellfant” taught fire safety to children in the 1980s.
He has now become a symbol for the Children’s Burns Trust, a charity that cares for children who have suffered burns or burn injuries, according to its website.
Smokey “has been copied all over the world,” Westover said. “The greatest form of flattery is, of course, imitation.”
“And, it’s amazing to see different countries coming up with their own different versions of Smokey and, yeah, it’s quite exciting to think about the impact it’s had over 80 years.”