Bears have always been a big deal in Wyoming.
This column is about the three bears, but not Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear. We are writing about three others that are among the most famous bears in the world: Yogi Bear, Smokey the Bear, and old 399. All have brought fame and notoriety to Wyoming.
Back in 1986, I was exactly 4,548 miles away from my Cowboy State home when being introduced at a Rotary Club in Cardiff, Wales. I had already learned that folks in the United Kingdom had no idea of what or where Wyoming was. But they did know about Yellowstone.
When I said I lived near Yellowstone National Park, somebody yelled “Yogi Bear!” The place exploded with laughter and knowing looks all-around. It seems that all the kids in Britain grew up watching Yogi and his adventures in Jellystone Park.
Later during a business venture involving European tourists, it became obvious again and again that folks over there had heard about our great national park, not from tourism information, but from the most popular cartoon show over there – Hanna and Barbera’s Yogi Bear. Amazing.
Yogi was originally a character on the Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958 but got his own show in 1961. He always said: “I am smarter than the av-er-age bear!” He and his buddy Boo-Boo spent most of their time stealing “pic-a-nic baskets” and escaping Ranger Smith, while singing “Yabba Dabba Do.”
Smokey The Bear
Wyoming is home of the world’s first national forest, the vast Shoshone. It stretches from north of Cody south to the Red Desert. It covers 2,469,248 acres. It was established in 1891.
Smokey has been the mascot of the national forests for more than 75 years.
When I researched the history of Smokey, I went to my go-to U. S. Forest Service guy, retired forest ranger and smoke jumper Karl Brauneis.
He said: “The focus was the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico where Smokey was first found and then on to Washington, DC where he became famous. The Smokey Bear Hot Shots are stationed down in New Mexico now.
“The key person in developing the Smokey Bear Fire Prevention program was artist Rudy Wendelin. He brought Smokey to life with the masculine look and kind eyes.
“I think we looked the best with Lander's Miss Wyoming - Elaine Dabney when she rode in my truck with Smokey in the annual July 4 parade. I put the magnetic shields on my 53 Chevy and dressed as the forest ranger of the 50's when Smokey was first found.
“Unfortunately, the feds wanted to dress Smokey in their new outfit. I said OK until I saw it. It is not the classic design. When I retired the forest service got rid of the old traditional Smokey outfit and I saved it and it should be at the county museum in Lander.
“All the forest service trucks were dark green up until around 1958 when they changed to that off color pine needle green. I am not sure what happened in 1958. It wasn't a good year. They also changed the name of Colorado A&M to Colorado State University. Yeah, I know. I don't do change well.”
Old 399 Is Gone
In recent years, by far, the most famous bear in the world was “Old 399,” a much beloved grizzly sow that liked to hang around the highways south of Yellowstone and in the Jackson Hole and Togwotee Pass areas. She was an amazing breeder.
A few years ago, she had four cubs which is unheard of, especially in a bear as old as she was.
She was 28 years old at the time of her death, which is quite an advanced age for a grizzly and also impressive the she was still producing cubs. Her latest was named Spirit, which has been missing since its mother was killed.
Old 399 was struck by a car in the Snake River Canyon. Because of her popularity, there was quite a clamor to have her stuffed but instead, the Fish and Wildlife Service cremated her remains.
A memorial service was held in Jackson Town Square, which brought fans from across the country to mourn her death.
Some Bear History
My first trip to Yellowstone National Park in the fall of 1970 and there was an uproar among the tourists because the rangers had prohibited people feeding the bears that summer. For about three decades, folks would feed the bears out their car windows.
I was looking forward to feeding my first bear, but alas, it never happened.
Here is what Brauneis had to say about the bear feeding: “My first trip to Yellowstone was in 1960 and we had a blast feeding all the bears. I think we counted around 50 different color phases of black bears. No grizzlies. There were bear jams all the way through the park. You just rolled down the window and they stuck their heads in and you fed 'em.”
Later there was worry that Yellowstone did not have enough grizzly bears and the population has rapidly expanded.
My guess is that the actual numbers of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is three times the official estimate. Are they endangered? No, they are at the top of the food chain and should be delisted from the endangered list.
Because of their rapid expansion over the past 50 years, the only thing endangered are humans finding themselves in the wrong place being confronted by these giant meat-eaters.
Bill Sniffin can be reached at: Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com
