MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • August 4, 2020
August 2020 marks the 76th year that Smokey Bear (not Smokey “the” Bear as misnamed in kids' books and a 1952 song) has warned about the dangers of wildfires. In 1944, the national Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign was launched. It is the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history.
The iconic make-believe Smokey Bear came to life when a bear cub was found in a tree in a wildfire in New Mexico in 1950. Burned on his paws and legs, the cub, first nicknamed “Hotfoot," was rescued. As his condition improved, a New Mexico state game warden presented the renamed bear cub to the U.S. Forest Service with the understanding that he would get a federal government job promoting fire prevention and conservation. The cub grew into a mature bear, maybe not as buff as some of the illustrations of Smokey, but a handsome fellow. He lived out his days at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., as the living symbol of Smokey Bear. In fact, he got so much mail he had his own zip code.
The real life bruin died in 1976, but Smokey Bear remains a nostalgic symbol, representing an idealized version of the American past in which the protection of nature was conceived as a priority rather than an obstacle to progress. Smokey has been criticized by ecologists who correctly point out that fire is a natural part of many forest ecosystems and suppressing wildfires has led to serious problems in some areas. However, Smokey meant well and unlike others in government these days, he has not pushed to ruin our public wildlands with misplaced logging, mining, drilling, and other wounds.
