Woodsy Owl

Woodsy Owl is a national symbol and advertising character for the United States Forest Service to motivate children to form healthy, lasting relationships with nature. Harold Bell of Western Publishing (and the producer of the Smokey Bear public service announcements), along with Glenn Kovar and Chuck Williams, originally created the mascot in 1970 as part of a United States Forest Service campaign to raise awareness of environmental protection. Woodsy Owl has been an integral part of the educational program of the US Forest Service for decades and is particularly active against littering and environmental pollution. Woodsy's original motto was "Give a hoot! Don't pollute" and has since been updated to "Lend a hand—care for the land!" Together with Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl has become an American environmental icon that has found its way into pop culture in numerous songs, comics, and television appearances.

Woodsy Owl's name, character, and mottos are protected symbols under Public Law 93-318 as property of the United States to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Origin

Woodsy Owl was created in 1970 as part of the second US environmental movement, in time for the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. During this phase of growing environmental awareness, Smokey Bear, which has existed since 1944, was increasingly relied on for environmental education. The US Forest Service was concerned that the bear, with the motto of forest fire prevention, could be misused through excessive use. Forest Service officials, therefore, commissioned the development of a new protagonist and message.