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Celebrate Smokey Bear’s 65th birthday with free ice cream

Weekly News Article Published: August 4, 2009 by the Central Office

MADISON – Ask almost anyone the name of the best-known bear in the world and Smokey Bear would likely be the winner. If Smokey’s your favorite bruin too, why not come down to the Madison Farmer’s Market on Aug. 8 to help him celebrate his 65th birthday by sampling some free ice cream?

Smokey will be there along with wildfire fighting equipment, and while the supply lasts, Smokey and his helpers will serve free ice cream. “Smokey Bear’s Necessities,” a specialty ice cream made for his birthday bash by the folks at UW-Madison’s Babcock Hall, is flavored with things a bear would eat, honey, cinnamon, cranberries and pecans.

“For 65 years Smokey has symbolized wildfire prevention and education on the role of fire in nature,” said Catherine Regan, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “His face and his slogan, ‘only you can prevent wildfires,’ have accompanied generations of campers, hikers, hunters and anglers in pursuit of their favorite pastimes.”

On August 9, 1944, illustrator Albert Staehle drew the first Smokey image. The real bear was found by firefighters clinging to a tree after a wildfire had passed, Smokey, as he came to be known, was just a cub in 1950. After his rescue and treatment by an area vet for burns, he lived at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. for the remainder of his life, a living symbol for wildfire safety and prevention.

For more information on Wisconsin’s wildfire fighting and prevention programs visit the wildfire pages of the DNR Web site, where you can also learn about Firewise, a program designed to reduce your home’s risk from wildfire.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Regan - (608) 266-2359 or Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248

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