Capitan, New Mexico

The mountain gap before you is Capitan Gap.  Smokey was found there as a badly burned bear cub.  Clinging to a charred tree, fire fighters rescued him after a fire burnt his home in 1950.  Smokey grew up to become the living symbol of fire prevention.

The story of how a small black bear survived a fire in the Capitan Mountains and became the world's most well-known bear.

Upon Smokey's recovery in Santa Fe, the Forest Service had Smokey flown to the National Zoo in Washington DC.  Were he lived out the rest of his life.  It is rumored that the airport refused the pilot's request to land the plane because there was a bear on board!

This harness was worn by Smokey Bear as a cub on his 1950 flight to Washington DC.

Smokey Bear

Age 8 - 250 Lbs 

Due to the vast amount of mail he was receiving, Smokey was given his own zip code.

Upon his death in 1976, Smokey's body was returned to his beautiful and beloved Capitan Mountains. He now rests in peace, buried in a small park which bears his name in the heart of Capitan and in the shadow of the mountains where it all began. 

New  Mexico adopted the black bear as the state animal in 1962.