Smokey Bear and his iconic slogan “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” turns 75 today.
Did you know there was a real Smokey Bear?
In 1950, firefighters battling a wildfire found a cub clinging to a burning tree in New Mexico. They rescued him and named him Smokey.
Of course, the well-known Smokey Bear came into existence six years after the launch of the U.S. Forest Service’s campaign. Still, the living symbol became revered. After recovering from his burns, Smokey spent his life at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. When he died in 1976, he was returned to New Mexico, where he is now buried in what is now known as Smokey Bear Historical Park.
There’s a party for Smokey tomorrow at Anna Ruby Falls near Unicoi State Park. Here are the details.