Smokey Bear, the iconic mascot of the United States Forest Service's wildfire prevention campaign, was created in 1944 by Albert Staehle. He was commissioned to create a poster for the campaign that would encourage people to prevent forest fires with his now famous slogan "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires".

The design for Smokey Bear included a black hat with white ears and a belt buckle that read “U.S. Forest Service”. His overall look has changed very little since his creation and he is still considered one of the most recognizable mascots in America today.

In addition to being featured on posters, Smokey Bear can be found on numerous souvenirs such as t-shirts, stuffed animals and even mugs. He has also been featured in films, books and songs. Even more recently, Smokey Bear has been spotted alongside celebrities like Taylor Swift who wore his signature hat during her 1989 World Tour in order to spread awareness about preventing wildfires.

No matter where you see him or how he's used, Smokey Bear remains an important symbol for reminding us all about the importance of fire safety and protecting our forests from potential damage.