| In 1944, Smokey the Bear was chosen to be the | | | | campaign has helped the government to save |
| mascot for environmentalism. Smokey the Bear | | | | millions of dollars each year in terms of rescue |
| has become one of the most successful | | | | and damage costs. This most popular (helped by |
| campaigns ever launched in America to prevent | | | | TV spots dedicated to this cause) and effective |
| the spread of forest fires. Many analysts and | | | | campaign launched by the US Federal government |
| researchers have credited the successful | | | | was curtailed after well over 50 years. What |
| widespread suppression of forest fires throughout | | | | happened? Why was that so? |
| North America to this campaign with its iconic | | | | Smokey the Bear came to an end because many |
| slogan 'Only you can prevent forest fires'. | | | | researches and ecologists came to the consensus |
| The success of Smokey the Bear campaign was | | | | that the occasional forest fires will benefit greatly |
| in large attributed to the endearment of children | | | | most forest ecosystems because forests |
| to the image of a friendly bear dressed in official | | | | evolved in relation to the occasional presence of |
| US National Park Ranger uniform, complete with | | | | fire. The contention was that most forest |
| rugged, brown range hat. That icon warmed the | | | | ecosystems need the occasional burn to stay |
| hearts of children throughout the United States. | | | | healthy. Now the US National Park system has |
| The campaign warned children not to play with | | | | reversed its policy once promoted by the |
| matches and urged them to take great care | | | | massive popular Smokey the Bear campaign. |
| when enjoying the beauty and facilities of the | | | | Despite years and years of popularity, Smokey |
| national parks and its outdoors. The massive | | | | the hung up its ranger hat and was at last |
| media campaign also made a palpable impact on | | | | removed from the airwaves. |
| the way people interacted with the national park | | | | Now that ecologists and leaders of the US |
| system and the great outdoors. Smokey the | | | | National Parks understand forest are susceptible |
| Bear was an immediate success from the | | | | to fires (a normal and even beneficial occurrence), |
| moment it was launched. | | | | Smokey the Bear came to an end. Despite this |
| Smokey the Bear campaign was largely credited | | | | change in policy, those so accustomed to seeing |
| with the successful reduction of the number of | | | | the friendly forest bear on their TV sets will miss |
| forest fires throughout North America. This | | | | Smokey the Bear. |
