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Children Family Safety Great Bears Smokey Bear has been around for many years because preventing forest fires, as Martha Bear would say, is a better thing for all of us. Thank you, Smokey. Stay safe, |
Growing up, I always heard, "Smokey the Bear says, 'Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.'" While the last part of the previous sentence became Smokey's anthem, Smokey the Bear is not the true name of the fire prevention mascot of the United States Forest Service. "The" was added to his name in 1950 when Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson wrote a song about him. The extra word made the rhythm and words match the melody. The song became so popular, that to this day, many people know this park-ranger-hat-wearing-critter as Smokey the Bear.
In 1944, the National Forest Service and Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program commissioned artist Rudolph Wendenlin to draw a cartoon Smokey for a poster to spread information about the prevention of forest fires. The 300 pound Smokey Bear we recognize these days, dressed in dungarees, a brass buckled belt, a ranger's hat, and carrying a shovel is based on an event from May 1950. A fire, caused by humans, called the Capitan Gap Fire, broke out in Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico in the Capitan mountain range. It spread rapidly, drawing more and more fire fighters to work the fire line and dig fire breaks. As people worked, they spotted a tiny five pound black bear cub that disappeared into the woods. When the flames jumped the fire break, a 24 man crew was trapped. 17,000 acres were destroyed, but the entire crew managed to bury themselves beneath rocks and dirt from a small landslide. Everyone emerged alive as did the tiny bear cub, who was discovered in a charred tree, his fur sooty and his paws burned. The survival of man and innocent beast became big news across America. The little bear, whom the fire fighters named Hotfoot, was soon renamed Smokey. He was treated by a veterinarian and cared for by Game Warden Ray Bell and his daughter. When Smokey got too big to handle safely, he was flown to the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Visitors came from everywhere to see Smokey. As the bear grew up, a new fire prevention campaign was started. Every year, a cartoon poster was created featuring Smokey, the "living symbol" of fire prevention, appearing in different poses.
In 1962, a female black bear called Golden became Smokey's mate. Sadly, they never had cubs. Smokey's image has been reproduced on clothing, in giant parade puppets, in stuffed animals and in comic books, story books, movies and rodeos. Smokey has appeared on television and trading cards. He was the first and only animal to have his image on a United States 20 cent postage stamp. The original Smokey Bear died in 1976 at the age of 26 and is buried in the same area he was born, Capitan National Forest.
ATTENTION KIDS: The Junior Forest Ranger Program was begun in 1953. When the Ideal Toy Company put a Junior Forest Ranger registration form with each of their Smokey Bear dolls, the program took off. So many children joined and Smokey got so much mail, more than the President of the United States, the post office gave Smokey his own zip code! The program is still in existence today. You may write to Smokey to let him know you would like to become a Junior Forest Ranger. It will take approximately eight weeks, but you will receive an official Smokey Bear Junior Forest Ranger Kit. Write to: Smokey Bear Headquarters |
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The state mammal of New Mexico is the American Black Bear.
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