SMOKEY BEAR

A strong nationwide effort in wildfire prevention began in 1942. A poster featuring Smokey Bear was circulated in 1945.

symbol soon became very popular. A recent survey showed that Smokey is the best known symbol in America and one of the most popular animal figures.

A live "Smokey" was found in 1950 as a badly burned club in a wildfire in New Mexico and was nursed back to health. The Smokey Bear program has been one of the most effective campaigns in history using an animal symbol to influence public opinion favorably in fighting -a serious national problem. Since it began, wildfires have dropped dramatically in number and in total area burned. Smokey has become an informative and lovable father figure.

The slogan, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires," created in 1947, has been so effective that it is still used frequently in posters, radio and televisions announcements, ads, flyers, etc.

Because it was discovered that young children (especially boys) playing with matches start many forest fires, another slogan was added to Smokey's Prevention Program - "Smokey's Friends Don't Play With Matches." These effective messages have been taken seriously by children who often criticize their parents for bad fire habits.

Remember, Smokey says, "If we keep fire out of the forest and let young healthy trees keep growing, it will help us to have beautiful green forests, nice clear streams, lumber for homes and food for our animal friends.

1 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior. Smokey Bear's Story of the Forest. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1985, 14.