According to the U.S. Forest Service website on Smokey, the original Smokey Bear was a fictional bear dreamed up as a symbol in 1944 for the Forest Service's campaign on forest fire prevention. However, in 1950, his name was bestowed on a bear cub who was rescued from a forest fire in New Mexico.

Smokey Bear was brought by the U.S. Forest Service from New Mexico in June of 1950 after being burned as a cub from a forest fire that swept through a portion of the Lincoln National Forest. Smokey Bear served as a living symbol of the Smokey Bear forest fire prevention program.

He was survived by his “wife,” Goldie, and his “adopted son,” Little Smokey. Of course, the Smokey Bear campaign did not die in 1976. Smokey the icon turns 78 this year; and 78 more years from now, we will still face the threat of human-caused and unwanted wildfires.

“Smokey Bear and his wife "Goldie" who arrived at the National Zoo in 1962. They adopted a son in 1971..” Special Collections, USDA National Agricultural Library.

comedy-drama The Bear is an American comedy-drama television series created by Christopher Storer. It premiered on Hulu on June 23, 2022, and stars Jeremy Allen White as a young, award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's sandwich shop.

In the first season, the bear's freighted symbolism was tethered to Carmy. It sometimes seems to stand for his brother Mikey. If it also stands for the ambition that drove Carmy to the top of his field and away from his family, it stands for the family, too (the Berzatto kids affectionately call each other “bear”).

Smokey Bear teaches people how to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect habitats. Children learn that forests, grasslands, and plains are homes to animals… create a Word/Picture Wall about these areas…

Smokey has black bear relatives who weigh as much as 800 pounds. Some of his grizzly bear cousins weigh almost a ton! WEIGHT AT BIRTH: About 1-1/2 pounds. In other words, he weighed about as much as a big loaf of bread.

Smokey's original catchphrase was "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires." In 1947, it became "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires." In 2001, it was again updated to its current version of "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other ...

black bear Smokey is a black bear. American black bears live in the United States, along with brown, grizzly and polar bears. He weighs over 300 pounds. Smokey has black bear relatives who weigh as much as 800 pounds, and some of his grizzly bear cousins weigh almost a ton (that's 2,000 pounds)!

A quiet bear. Smokey traditionally never spoke in his public service messages except for his signature line (Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires).

In other words, Smokey can be a hardass about fire safety when he needs to be, but he isn't a narc. The visual symbol of the blue jeans gives Smokey a trustworthiness that he wouldn't have if he were dressed only in the campaign hat. The pants imply to the viewer that Smokey isn't just The Man talking down to them.