Woodsy Owl

Owl character of the U.S. Forest Service used in public awareness campaigns

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Fictional character

Woodsy Owl

Text reads: "Thanks for helping me spread the word. Give a hoot! Don't pollute. Woodsy Owl"

First appearance| September 15, 1971
Created by| Harold Bell
Glen Kovar
Chuck Williams
United States Forest Service
In-universe information
Gender| Male
Drawing of "New" Woodsy. "Lend a hand—care for the land!" Costume of "New" Woodsy

Woodsy Owl is a national symbol and advertising character for the United States Forest Service[1] with the aim of motivating 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 Glen 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.[2] 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!"[2] 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.[2]

## Origin

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Woodsy Owl was created in 1970 as part of the second US environmental movement. 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.

Harold Bell, who had worked as a merchandising agent for Walt Disney, among others, created Woodsy Owl together with Chuck Williams and Glenn Kovar, two employees of the Forest Service and technical consultants for the popular television series Lassie, and its collaborator Betty Hite. The Robin Hood-inspired hat Woodsy wears to this day was motivated by a movie item Williams found on the set. Before choosing the owl, a raccoon, rainbow trout, ladybug, and moose had been discussed. The decisive factor was the owl's habitat that includes not only the forest but also urban regions and should therefore also appeal to an urban audience. This is also alluded to by "The Ballad of Woodsy Owl," in which it says, "Woodsy Owl has got a home on the big branch of a tree / When he looks from left to right, town and forest he can see." After successful test marketing in schools, summer camps, and church groups, Woodsy Owl was registered as a trademark on August 20, 1970 at the US Patent Office.[1][2] USFS employee Rudy Wendelin, who had already played a key role in the design of Smokey Bear, refined the graphic designs of the figure and breathed “personality” into it.[3]

Woodsy's slogan was officially introduced on September 15, 1971, by Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin. The first Woodsy Owl public service spot was created by US Forest Ranger Chuck Williams, who was the Forest Service's technical consultant for the Lassie TV show which featured a Forest Service Ranger and his family.[3] Williams, along with Bell and Glenn Kovar, also of the US Forest Service, brainstormed the idea for the Woodsy motif name together in Los Angeles, California, in 1970.[2] In 1974, Congress passed the Woodsy Owl Act (Public Law 93-318) to protect the character making it a federal crime to reproduce his image or original slogan.[4] This was reversed by Division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

Despite the documented history of Woodsy Owl's creation, various rival claims to his parentage have emerged over the years. Several individuals have stated that they invented Woodsy Owl as children as part of a nationwide poster contest. The Forest History Society has said that no evidence of such has been provided.[5]

Several songs have been used in conjunction with the Woodsy Owl environmental campaign, including "The Ballad of Woodsy Owl" and "Help Woodsy Spread the Word". Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, the drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic, recorded "The Woodsy Owl Song."

For his appearances in commercials that aired in the 1970s and 1980s, Woodsy was voiced by several actors, including Sterling Holloway, Barry Gordon, Dave Kimber, and Frank Welker.

Several other environmentalism-, conservation\- or outdoor-themed comics and characters have appeared over the years, including Mark Trail and Smokey Bear. Woodsy Owl appeared as a comic by Gold Key Comics from 1973 to 1976.

### Costume disposal

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In 2009, the Forest Service published instructions on the destruction of old and outdated Woodsy Owl costumes, which were no longer permitted after a redesign.[6]

> 1\. Incinerate the complete costume with the oversight of an official USDA Forest Service law enforcement officer.

> 2\. The entire Woodsy Owl costume including each of the separate pieces is to be destroyed beyond recognition.

> If you do not have access to an official USDA Forest Service law enforcement representative, arrangements will be made for dealing with your costume by contacting the USDA-FS Washington Office

It was seen as ironic that the Forest Service, known for fire prevention, called for incineration; and that a mascot of sustainability was to be "destroyed beyond recognition". The guidelines inspired a song called "Burn Him Down" by Californian indie band Kitsch Club.[7]

## See also

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* Johnny Horizon
* Mark Trail
* Smokey Bear

## References

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1. ^ a b "Conservation Education – Woodsy Owl". Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
2. ^ a b c d e Fuller-Bennett, Harald; Velez, Iris (Spring 2012). "Woodsy Owl at 40" (PDF). Forest History Today. Forest History Society. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
3. ^ a b "PSW at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival". [PSW News]. August 2005. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012.
4. ^ "18 USC 711a: "Woodsy Owl" character, name, or slogan". Retrieved June 3, 2019.
5. ^ Fuller-Bennett, Harald (Spring 2012). "I Created Woodsy Owl" (PDF). Forest History Today. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
6. ^ "Government Guidelines on the Disposal of Old Woodsy Owl Costumes". Archived from the original on March 31, 2008.
7. ^ "Burn Him Down by Kitsch Club Lyrics on Genius".

## External links

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Media related to Woodsy Owl at Wikimedia Commons

* U.S. Forest Service National Symbols Program
* Remembering Harold Bell, Creator of Woodsy Owl. Peeling Back the Bark, the Forest History Society.