In a bizarre and unexpected turn of events, Smokey the Bear himself helped Florida law enforcement apprehend a man who had been stealing the advertising icon’s signs from state forests and selling them online for a hefty price.
Smokey Bear is an American campaign and advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Service in the Wildfire Prevention Campaign.
It is the longest-running public service announcement campaign in United States history to date.
The suspect, who was reportedly posting the stolen Smokey the Bear signs on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each, has been arrested.
The investigation revealed a crime spree spanning from Pensacola to Orlando.
According to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, the culprit had been targeting Smokey the Bear’s image, one of the most recognized figures in the U.S., and profiting from the theft of state property.
“What happens when dumb criminals poke the bear?” Simpson quipped in a social media post on Wednesday, sharing details of the arrest.
“Our Ag Law Team has a suspect in custody who traveled from Pensacola to Orlando stealing Smoky Bear signs from our state forests and selling them on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each,” Simpson said.
“Big thank you to Smokey the Bear for personally assisting in the arrest.”
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested and transported to jail.
While criminal charges are still pending, Simpson made it clear that the suspect could face jail time for his actions.
Simpson’s comments were blunt:
“Smokey is always around our forest and just got lucky today that he saw the bad guy and got him handcuffed.
“What an idiot, what an idiot.”
Simpson also expressed disbelief over the suspect’s audacity.
“Smokey goes to schools, he’s known by our children, he’s known by our families, he is known throughout the United States,” he said.
“Who goes and steals an image of Smokey the Bear and then tries to profit off of that?”
The incident highlights Florida’s ongoing efforts to prevent forest fires, which destroyed 24,000 acres of land in 2024.
The Florida Department of Agriculture, which has its own law enforcement division, performed 277,000 acres of controlled burns last year alone and invested $93 million into upgraded firefighting equipment.
Simpson added that Smokey the Bear, in addition to his educational role, is also part of Florida’s strategy to combat crime in the state’s forests.
“If you’re going to go in and commit crimes in our forests, you probably need to find a different place,” Simpson told Fox 13.
“Not only will you find smoke in some of those forests, but you’ll find our car officers.”
“We’re the most pro-law enforcement state in the union,” Simpson proudly declared.
“Smokey Bear is on the job also.”
This case serves as a reminder that even the beloved mascot of fire safety can become an unexpected crime-fighting ally, while also highlighting the state’s robust commitment to preserving its natural resources and enforcing the law.
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