Get To Know Smokey Bear
Orphan Cub Named Smokey
A Wildfire in New Mexico
One spring day in 1950, in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico, a fire tower operator spotted smoke and called the nearest ranger station. The first crew discovered a major wildfire.
As the crew battled to contain the Capitan Gap Fire, they received a report of a lone bear cub wandering near the fire line. They hoped that the mother bear would return for him.
Soon, about 30 of the firefighters were caught directly in the path of the firestorm. They survived by lying face down on a rockslide for over an hour as the fire burned past them.
Rescued!
Nearby, the little cub had not fared as well. He took refuge in a tree that became completely charred, escaping with his life but with badly burned paws and hind legs. The crew removed the cub from the tree and brought him to a fire camp.
A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish ranger and pilot, Ray Bell, heard about the cub and flew him to Santa Fe, where a veterinarian treated and bandaged his burns.
Bell took the cub home, where his wife Ruth and daughter Judy helped nurse the cub back to health and regain his playful energy.
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News about the little bear spread swiftly throughout New Mexico. Soon, the United Press and Associated Press broadcast his story nationwide, and many people wrote and called, asking about the cub’s recovery. The public named the cub 'Smokey Bear' after the popular PSA campaign.
The state game warden wrote to the Chief of the USDA Forest Service, offering to present the cub to the agency as long as it was dedicated to a conservation and wildfire prevention promotion program.
Smokey gets a new home
The cub was soon on his way to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear. He received numerous gifts of honey and so many letters that the U.S. Postal Service gave him his own zip code (20252). Smokey is still the only individual to have their own zip code, other than the president.
In 1962, another bear named Goldie joined Smokey at the National Zoo. They quickly formed a pair bond, with Goldie now being referred to as Smokey's "wife." Later, another orphaned cub — this time from the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico — joined them, and the couple "adopted" him as their son, Little Smokey (aka Smokey II).
After 25 years as the living symbol of Smokey Bear, Smokey retired in 1975. He remained at the National Zoo until his death on November 9, 1976. His remains were then returned to his home and buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico, where he continues to be a wildfire prevention legend.
Smokey Bear II
Following in his adoptive father's footsteps, Smokey Bear II became the next living symbol of Smokey. He remained in his role at the National Zoo until his death on August 11, 1990.
Get to know Smokey Bear
Since 1944, Smokey’s been working hard to inspire Americans to prevent wildfires. Follow his history here through memorabilia and print, radio and TV messages.