The actual Smokey the Bear was an orphaned bear cub found by fire crews (possibly soldiers from Ft. Bliss Texas, IIRC) clinging to a tree after a fire in New Mexico in 1958. His paws were burned, but otherwise unharmed. He quickly became the living mascot of the Forest Service. Smokey was later transferred to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. where he lived out his years, passing in 1976 or 77, again IIRC.
The actual Smokey the Bear was an orphaned bear cub found by fire crews (possibly soldiers from Ft. Bliss Texas, IIRC) clinging to a tree after a fire in New Mexico in 1958. His paws were burned, but otherwise unharmed. He quickly became the living mascot of the Forest Service. Smokey was later transferred to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. where he lived out his years, passing in 1976 or 77, again IIRC.