Today is the birthday of a talking PSA bear. Smokey. The point of Smokey Bear is simple, reminding people of their personal responsibility in nature conservation. "Only you can prevent Wildfires" is his current catchphrase, changed from "Only you can prevent forest fires", because not all forest fires are bad (ex. controlled burning) and not all fires that do threaten wildlife are in a forest. Smokey started life as a man made character for wartime PSA's because the United States didn't have enough fire fighters with the war going on and they hoped if they asked nicely people would be more careful with fire in the woods.
Then Smokey's identity fused with that of an actual bear. There was a bear cub that was rescued from a fire in New Mexico in the 1950's. The poor little bear was in bad shape, but found enough shelter in a scorched tree that he survived with treatable burns. The little bear's story spread and understably a lot of people cared about this little bear's welfare. He was then moved to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he received enough fan mail to receive his own zip code. Smokey lived to the age of 26, which is on the older side for a black bear, and he was laid to rest at his original New Mexico home, which we now call the Smokey Bear Historical Park.
Were people telling kids the bear would be able to read their letters?