More Famous Bears 

Not always Teddy Bears

Smokey Bear is a mascot of the United States Forest Service created in 1944 to educate the public on the dangers of forest fires. Did you know the cartoon Smokey Bear is based upon an actual baby black bear that was found alone, charred, and scared after a devastating wildfire burned through New Mexico?

One spring day in 1950 in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico, an operator in one of the fire towers to the north of the Capitans spotted smoke and called the location into the nearest ranger station.

During one of the lulls in firefighting, a report of a lonely bear cub who had been seen wandering near the fireline was reported. The men left him alone because they thought the mother bear might come for him. Nearby, the little cub had been caught in the path of the same fire and had not fared as well. He had taken refuge in a tree that was now nothing but a charred smoking snag. His climb had saved his life but left him badly burned on the paws and hind legs. The soldiers removed the little bear cub from the burned tree, but they did not know what to do with him.

A rancher, who had been helping the firefighters, agreed to take the cub home. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Ranger heard about the cub when he returned to the fire camp and drove to the rancher's home to get the bear. The cub needed veterinary aid and was flown in a small plane to Santa Fe where the burns were treated and bandaged.

The news about the little bear spread swiftly throughout New Mexico. Soon the United Press and Associated Press picked up the story and broadcast it nationwide. Many people wrote or called to inquire about the little bear's progress. The State Game Warden wrote an official letter to the Chief of the Forest Service, presenting the cub to the agency with the understanding that the small bear would be dedicated to a publicity program of fire prevention and conservation. The go-ahead was given to send the bear to Washington, DC, where he found a home at the National Zoo, becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear.

Fozzie Bear is The Muppet Show's resident comedian. He's an orange, fuzzy Muppet bear who tells bad jokes, usually punctuated with his catchphrase, "Wocka wocka wocka!" He also often says "AaaAAAAaaah" when he tells the jokes, which somewhat serves the same purpose as "Wocka wocka." Fozzie is also best friends with Kermit, although they occasionally have differences of opinion.

During the first season of The Muppet Show, Fozzie's monologues usually consisted of Fozzie telling simple setup/punchline jokes, while being heckled by Statler and Waldorf. After the first season, most of his monologues relied on gimmicks, such as ventriloquism or telling jokes on roller skates. Fozzie also told a joke during the opening sequence of every episode during the first season.

Mr Bean has a teddy bear. He is called "Teddie". "Teddie" is Mr. Bean's life long best friend. Being inanimate, he is invaluable as a trusted conspirator, easy to beat at chess and doubles as a good dish cloth or paint brush in an emergency. "Mr Bean's" bear is dark brown, knitted oddity, with button eyes and sausage-shaped limbs. But he is a friend and that's all that matters.

Blue-Bear's name comes from the great German TV puppet "Käpt'n Blaubär" (Captain Blue Bear), who is a blue seaman-like bear that tells lied stories to his two nephews and his niece (three little bears colored red, green and yellow). These bears appear in the "Sendung mit der Maus" (program with the mouse), a half-hours show containing stories to laugh about (as Käpt'n Blaubär) and stories explaining all-days things (e.g. how to produce paper) for little children.

Gummi Bears-Disney's adventures of the "Gummi Bears" or Gummibären von Walt Disney debuted in 1985 and quickly became one of the most popular shows on the air. Disney's half-hour adventure series was about a charming sextet of medieval bears. There were six Gummi Bears protecting Princess Calla and her boy-page Cavin in the Kingdom of Dunwyn. The bears got their power from Gummiberry Juice, made by Grammi Gummi, which gave them the ability to bounce like no bear had ever bounced before.

The Gummi Bears are a kind of human-like bears: They talk, live in houses and generally act like us. They even have a secret juice made of gummi-berries which gives them strength and the ability to bounce. The cast is completed with the friendly people of Darwin where good King Gregor rules. He has a daughter, Princess Cala who along with a young man, Cavin become friends with the Gummies and share their adventures . A good story would never be complete without the "bad guy". Here, the role is taken by Duke Igthorn, who plans to become the king of Darwin with the aid of his ogres. The series features the memorable personalities of Zummi, Gruffi, Grammi, Cubbi, Sunni, and Tummi Gummi, six mythical creatures who often find themselves in the middle of intriguing and whimsical adventures.
 
Yogi Bear, introduced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1957, is a very pesky, yet lovable, cartoon character who has been a teddy bear a time or two. Yogi is famous for his schemes to swindle campers out of their pic-in-ic baskets in Jellystone National park.Yogi lives in the Jellystone National Park. He loves bothering Ranger Smith, and he is smarter than the average bear. Yogi Bear was one of the most popular cartoons back in the late 50's. Yogi Cartoons started airing in 1959-1962. The show was created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera; the same people who created 'The Flintstone's. Ed Benedict was main character designer. Yogi has a bunch of friends in his cartoons. He has his best friend, Boo-Boo, his girlfriend, Cindy - and Ranger Smith who Yogi is constantly annoying.