Harold Bell, who along with two forest rangers and another colleague created Woodsy Owl, the plump anthropomorphic bird in a red-feathered cap who for nearly four decades has exhorted youngsters to “Give a hoot, don’t pollute,” died Dec. 4 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 90.

It was on the set of the long-running television show “Lassie” that Bell, along with the U.S. Forest Service rangers Chuck Williams and Glenn Kovar and their co-worker Betty Hite, came up with the concept of Woodsy as a new mascot for the Forest Service in time for the first Earth Day — April 22, 1970.

Unlike Smokey Bear, whose purpose was summed up by his slogan, “Only you can prevent forest fires,” Woodsy had a broader mission: to engage children in the fight against pollution and promote programs advocating appropriate use of the environment.