Bambi almost became the star of Smokey Bear campaign
Smokey Bear is turning 80 years old this year. In his 8 decades, Smokey has become one of the world’s most recognizable bears. But Smokey Bear was close to being a well-loved baby deer known as Bambi.
In 1941, in the midst of World War II, one of the first forest fire prevention campaign posters came out. By 1944, a public service campaign was launched with the goal of educating Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. The campaign has become the longest-running PSA in U.S. history.
The creators needed a star for their posters. Luckily, the world was captivated by Walt Disney’s “Bambi.” The public went crazy for the loveable forest characters, but there was a big problem. Disney only loaned the characters to the campaign for one year.
The search was on for a new star of the show. After some brainstorming, the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) program decided nothing was more fitting than the bear.
On August 9, 1944, the Forest Service authorized the creation of Smokey Bear and the first poster was printed on October 10. By 1947, Smokey’s catchphrase was “Remember… Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”
While Smokey Bear was the star of the CFFP campaign, it wasn’t until 1950 that there was a real-life Smokey Bear introduced to the public. In Capitan, New Mexico, in the aftermath of a forest fire, a bear cub was found clinging to the side of a burnt pine tree. The cub was badly burned on the buttocks and feet, and was given the name “Hotfoot.”
The next day, Game Warden Ray Bell flew the cub to the veterinary hospital in Santa Fe. Bell kept Smokey in his home while he recovered. Smokey was transported to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. where he lived until he died in 1976.
Smokey’s body was returned to his home in the Capitan Mountains. He now rests in a park that bears his name, in the middle of the Lincoln National Forest.
In honor of Smokey’s 80th Birthday, he will be meeting fans at the Ozark Empire Fair. Smokey Bear will be at the Missouri Department of Conservation building from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31 and Friday, August 2.
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