thumb|alt=Updated cartoon owl character design|Drawing of "New" Woodsy. "Lend a hand—care for the land!"

thumb|alt=Person wearing large owl mascot costume|Costume of "New" Woodsy

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!" 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 marketing agent for the television show Lassie, 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.

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. 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.

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

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.

See also

  • Johnny Horizon
  • Mark Trail
  • Smokey Bear

References

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