Smokey Bear's Grave - Capitan, New Mexico
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Smokey Bear's Grave - Capitan, New Mexico
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The grave of Smokey Bear at Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico.
The stone reads: “This is the resting place of the first living Smokey Bear. In 1950, when Smokey was a tiny cub, a wildfire burned his forest home in the nearby Capitan Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest. Firefighters found the badly burned cub clinging to a blackened tree and saved his life. In June 1950, the cub was flown to our Nation’s Capital to become the living symbol of wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation. After 25 years, he was replaced by another orphaned black bear from the Lincoln National Forest.”
Smokey retired at the age of 25, 70 years old in human years. The mandatory retirement age for federal employees. He passed away in his sleep a year later at 26 years old. Smokey was brought back to his home to be buried. The boulder used for Smokey’s grave marker was brought down the mountain from the forest where he was found.
Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
February 16th, 2022
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