When was smokey the bear founded

The early ads looked like many other wartime messages. Then Disney temporarily loaned Bambi—who had been introduced in —to the effort, and the public started listening. Smokey was a sensation. In , when a black bear cub was rescued from a burning forest in New Mexico, he was named Smokey and sent to Washington, D. Today, the Ad Council estimates that 96 percent of adults recognize him—the sort of ratings usually reserved for Mickey Mouse and the president.

Between the s and s, the average number of annual wildfires in the United States decreased by over 40, Artist Albert Staehle , known for his illustrations of adorable animals, stepped into the gap. He created the first poster of a cartoonish bear pouring water on a campfire.

Ironically, the only real enemy attempts to burn U. More than 9, Japanese fire balloons were launched over the western United States between and , but the weapons caused few casualties and even less fire damage.

Over the next 75 years, Smokey's message of forest fire prevention successfully raised awareness of the dangers of unattended fires—but is also thought to have turned public opinion against burns of any kind. Ironically, the bear helped put the brakes on controlled burns, which keep the amount of flammable brush under control and help encourage new growth in forests. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Smokey Bear logo.

Search Search Text Search Close. Facebook Twitter Close. Search Text Search Close. Judy Bell helped her mother take care of Smokey.

A keystone predator that can weigh up to pounds. Their thick, lush fur can range from dark brown to nearly towhead blonde. They are capable of surviving the harshest of conditions, if allowed to. They once ranged from Northern Alaska to Central Mexico, but while Alaska and western British Columbia still have large numbers of bears, their southern range has shrunk dramatically to just a handful of areas in the lower 48, including the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming, western Montana, northern and eastern Idaho.

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