This week’s Mascot Monday goes deep into the firelines—figuratively and literally—as Smokey the Bear, America’s most iconic wildfire prevention mascot, gears up for a special appearance at Trustmark Park this Friday night with the Mississippi Mud Monsters.
(Smokey the Bear at Trustmark Park during a 2021 Mississippi Braves game)
Presented by the Mississippi Forestry Commission, this Fireworks Friday isn’t just about lighting up the sky—it’s about lighting a spark of awareness. And no figure has carried that message longer or more effectively than Smokey, who’s been telling generations of Americans, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires” since 1944.
But Smokey the Bear isn’t just a cartoon. He was born from necessity—created during World War II to encourage Americans to help protect the nation’s forests while firefighting resources were scarce. That message came to life in 1950 when a real black bear cub was rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico. Badly burned and clinging to a charred tree, the cub was nursed back to health, named Smokey, and became the living embodiment of the campaign. He would go on to reside at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., receiving millions of letters from children and becoming the first and only bear with his own ZIP code: 20252.
(The original Smokey the Bear in 1950)
Though Smokey’s roots began out West, legend has it that during his cross-country travels to promote fire safety, he developed a deep connection to the piney woods of Mississippi. The longleaf pines, slow rivers, and quiet forest towns reminded him of the wilderness he’ once nearly lost.
Over the years, he spent time walking fire lines with rangers in places like DeSoto National Forrest, just south of Hattiesburg or the vast farmlands of the Delta visiting schools, and teaching kids how to respect the land. So when Smokey takes the field at Trustmark Park this Friday—throwing out the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. and mingling with fans during the game—it’s not just another mascot appearance. It’s a homecoming of sorts. Smokey made many memorable appearances at Trustmark Park as he is a huge Braves fan, but this will be first appearance at a Mud Monsters game. So when Smokey takes the field at Trustmark Park this Friday—throwing out the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. and mingling with fans during the game—it’s not just another mascot appearance. It’s a homecoming of sorts.
(Above: Smokey with Mississippi Braves pitcher and Meridian, MS native and Southern Miss alumn Landon Harper at a M-Braves game at Trustmark Park in 2024)
The partnership between the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Mud Monsters proves that public outreach can be both meaningful and memorable—especially when there’s a fireworks show to cap it all off.
Whether you’re coming for the game, the mascots, or the message, Friday night promises to be a celebration of forest pride, family fun, and a national icon who just might have Southern roots after all.
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