Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog

Crossword Answer — February 08, 2026

Answer
NYT Crossword Answers

NYT Crossword

Sunday, February 08, 2026

By Chloe Revery

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Crafty sort
  2. 8Vegetables that should typically be sliced lengthwise before washing
  3. 13Cowboy on the pampas
  4. 19"Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" sculptor
  5. 20Supplement
  6. 22Get in on the game
  7. 23Scrunchie, e.g.
  8. 25"Oh, cruel fate!"
  9. 26Autocorrect target
  10. 27Classification
  11. 28Sports franchises, e.g.
  12. 30Fine-grained wood in some woodwind instruments
  13. 31Social norms
  14. 34Wizard of ___ Park (Thomas Edison nickname)
  15. 35Disney heroine based on New Orleans chef Leah Chase
  16. 36USA, e.g.
  17. 39Title for William beginning in 2022
  18. 42Hawk homes
  19. 43In view
  20. 44Money in rock 'n' roll
  21. 45Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog
  22. 48Patron of sailors
  23. 52Work with a needle
  24. 53Position in basketball
  25. 54___ Kippur
  26. 57Looks through someone's phone, say
  27. 59Pointers for a fencer?
  28. 61Slacken
  29. 64[Bo-o-oring!]
  30. 65Pop, to a tot
  31. 67Explicit command
  32. 71One-named singer with four Grammys
  33. 72Relative of a heron
  34. 74Sirenlike
  35. 75What a sad person might break into
  36. 771987 Dreyfuss/DeVito comedy
  37. 79"!!!"
  38. 80Philosopher Kierkegaard
  39. 82Dig up dirt?
  40. 85It typically has a string attached
  41. 87Bright shade similar to magenta
  42. 91"Things Fall ___" (Chinua Achebe novel)
  43. 94"Oh, cruel fate!"
  44. 95Canadian coin featuring a polar bear, informally
  45. 96Margaret Atwood novel with a love triangle involving a paleontologist
  46. 101Weasel relatives
  47. 102A water molecule contains three of these
  48. 103Vexillologist's subject
  49. 104Stone measure
  50. 105Explorer with her monkey friend Boots
  51. 106Bud of baseball
  52. 107What Excedrin relieves
  53. 109Strawberry ___ Refresher (Starbucks drink)
  54. 113Stir up
  55. 115Hit reality TV series suggested by this puzzle's groups of circled letters
  56. 119Place for a shoelace
  57. 120Manning with two Super Bowl rings
  58. 121"You can count on me!"
  59. 122Talks back to
  60. 123Witherspoon of "Legally Blonde"
  61. 124Patronized, as a restaurant

Down

  1. 1Words on either side of "___ is ___"
  2. 2Bank (on)
  3. 3Sting operation
  4. 4Trouble with Z's?
  5. 5Take a load off
  6. 6Singer DiFranco who created Righteous Babe Records
  7. 7Small change
  8. 8Tilt
  9. 9Werewolf on TV's "Wednesday"
  10. 10Slip up
  11. 11Wee mewer
  12. 12Prestigious academic journal since 1880
  13. 13Résumé problems, at times
  14. 14365 días
  15. 15More ideal?
  16. 16Trix or Kix
  17. 17___ society
  18. 18Performances at Paris's Palais Garnier
  19. 21Well again
  20. 24Quick hellos
  21. 29Vibes
  22. 32Jumpy
  23. 33What many a shelter animal hopes to be
  24. 34BMW offering since 2000
  25. 35Many boy band fans
  26. 362019 film that one reviewer called "purr-fectly dreadful"
  27. 37Villainous chortle
  28. 38"Can I go now?"
  29. 39Await settlement, as a payment
  30. 40Partner of Parks, informally
  31. 41Goes well with
  32. 43California's Big ___
  33. 46Band with the 1995 hit "Wonderwall"
  34. 47Clorox competitor
  35. 49Individualist
  36. 50Drink from a tub?
  37. 51Concert broadcast that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, with "the"
  38. 55The Who's "Love, Reign ___ Me"
  39. 56Makeup of some face masks
  40. 58Vast amount
  41. 60Italian city known for its cheese
  42. 61Vapes
  43. 62Georgia airport, for short
  44. 63___ dish
  45. 65Annual reason for lost sleep: Abbr.
  46. 66Fighting
  47. 68Pi follower
  48. 69"Uhh ...," to Brits
  49. 70Come back in
  50. 73Alternatives to gyro platters
  51. 76Variety of rabbit or goat
  52. 78What a tall collar covers
  53. 80Read quickly
  54. 81Gives the green light
  55. 83"I've got this"
  56. 84Barely scrapes (by)
  57. 86Social blunder
  58. 88Amateur radio devotees
  59. 89Greeting in Brazil
  60. 90Easily moved
  61. 92Arrive by car
  62. 93Gym staff member
  63. 96Set of nine dancing in "The 12 Days of Christmas"
  64. 972017 figure skating biopic
  65. 98Compels
  66. 99Things that typically build up during vacation
  67. 100Easter purchase
  68. 101Social media tribute to a celeb, say
  69. 104Tech company exec
  70. 106Hollywood workplaces
  71. 107Major-leaguers
  72. 108Something hard to face?
  73. 110Small bug?
  74. 111___ Minor
  75. 112Stevie Wonder's "___ She Lovely"
  76. 114Vex, with "off"
  77. 116Summer on the Riviera
  78. 117Onetime parent co. of Virgin Records
  79. 118Led

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Crafty sort — Answer: ARTISAN
  2. 8. Vegetables that should typically be sliced lengthwise before washing — Answer: LEEKS
  3. 13. Cowboy on the pampas — Answer: GAUCHO
  4. 19. "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" sculptor — Answer: BERNINI
  5. 20. Supplement — Answer: ENRICH
  6. 22. Get in on the game — Answer: ANTEUP
  7. 23. Scrunchie, e.g. — Answer: ELASTICHAIRTIE
  8. 25. "Oh, cruel fate!" — Answer: POORME
  9. 26. Autocorrect target — Answer: TYPO
  10. 27. Classification — Answer: KIND
  11. 28. Sports franchises, e.g. — Answer: TEAMS
  12. 30. Fine-grained wood in some woodwind instruments — Answer: PEAR
  13. 31. Social norms — Answer: MORES
  14. 34. Wizard of ___ Park (Thomas Edison nickname) — Answer: MENLO
  15. 35. Disney heroine based on New Orleans chef Leah Chase — Answer: TIANA
  16. 36. USA, e.g. — Answer: CHANNEL
  17. 39. Title for William beginning in 2022 — Answer: PRINCEOFWALES
  18. 42. Hawk homes — Answer: AERIES
  19. 43. In view — Answer: SEEN
  20. 44. Money in rock 'n' roll — Answer: EDDIE
  21. 45. Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog — Answer: THEADCOUNCIL
  22. 48. Patron of sailors — Answer: STELMO
  23. 52. Work with a needle — Answer: SEW
  24. 53. Position in basketball — Answer: GUARD
  25. 54. ___ Kippur — Answer: YOM
  26. 57. Looks through someone's phone, say — Answer: SNOOPS
  27. 59. Pointers for a fencer? — Answer: EPEES
  28. 61. Slacken — Answer: EASEUP
  29. 64. [Bo-o-oring!] — Answer: SNORE
  30. 65. Pop, to a tot — Answer: DADA
  31. 67. Explicit command — Answer: DIRECTORDER
  32. 71. One-named singer with four Grammys — Answer: ENYA
  33. 72. Relative of a heron — Answer: STORK
  34. 74. Sirenlike — Answer: SHRILL
  35. 75. What a sad person might break into — Answer: TEARS
  36. 77. 1987 Dreyfuss/DeVito comedy — Answer: TINMEN
  37. 79. "!!!" — Answer: OMG
  38. 80. Philosopher Kierkegaard — Answer: SOREN
  39. 82. Dig up dirt? — Answer: HOE
  40. 85. It typically has a string attached — Answer: TEABAG
  41. 87. Bright shade similar to magenta — Answer: SHOCKINGPINK
  42. 91. "Things Fall ___" (Chinua Achebe novel) — Answer: APART
  43. 94. "Oh, cruel fate!" — Answer: ALAS
  44. 95. Canadian coin featuring a polar bear, informally — Answer: TOONIE
  45. 96. Margaret Atwood novel with a love triangle involving a paleontologist — Answer: LIFEBEFOREMAN
  46. 101. Weasel relatives — Answer: FERRETS
  47. 102. A water molecule contains three of these — Answer: ATOMS
  48. 103. Vexillologist's subject — Answer: FLAGS
  49. 104. Stone measure — Answer: CARAT
  50. 105. Explorer with her monkey friend Boots — Answer: DORA
  51. 106. Bud of baseball — Answer: SELIG
  52. 107. What Excedrin relieves — Answer: PAIN
  53. 109. Strawberry ___ Refresher (Starbucks drink) — Answer: ACAI
  54. 113. Stir up — Answer: INCITE
  55. 115. Hit reality TV series suggested by this puzzle's groups of circled letters — Answer: UNDERCOVERBOSS
  56. 119. Place for a shoelace — Answer: EYELET
  57. 120. Manning with two Super Bowl rings — Answer: PEYTON
  58. 121. "You can count on me!" — Answer: IMALLIN
  59. 122. Talks back to — Answer: SASSES
  60. 123. Witherspoon of "Legally Blonde" — Answer: REESE
  61. 124. Patronized, as a restaurant — Answer: DINEDAT

Down

  1. 1. Words on either side of "___ is ___" — Answer: ABET
  2. 2. Bank (on) — Answer: RELY
  3. 3. Sting operation — Answer: TRAP
  4. 4. Trouble with Z's? — Answer: INSOMNIA
  5. 5. Take a load off — Answer: SIT. Hint: What you might do when your feet need a break 🪑
  6. 6. Singer DiFranco who created Righteous Babe Records — Answer: ANI
  7. 7. Small change — Answer: NICKEL
  8. 8. Tilt — Answer: LEAN. Hint: When you want to rest on one side, you might just do this! 🤔
  9. 9. Werewolf on TV's "Wednesday" — Answer: ENID
  10. 10. Slip up — Answer: ERR
  11. 11. Wee mewer — Answer: KITTEN
  12. 12. Prestigious academic journal since 1880 — Answer: SCIENCE
  13. 13. Résumé problems, at times — Answer: GAPS
  14. 14. 365 días — Answer: ANO
  15. 15. More ideal? — Answer: UTOPIA
  16. 16. Trix or Kix — Answer: CEREAL
  17. 17. ___ society — Answer: HUMANE
  18. 18. Performances at Paris's Palais Garnier — Answer: OPERAS
  19. 21. Well again — Answer: HEALED
  20. 24. Quick hellos — Answer: HIS
  21. 29. Vibes — Answer: MOODS
  22. 32. Jumpy — Answer: ONEDGE
  23. 33. What many a shelter animal hopes to be — Answer: RESCUED
  24. 34. BMW offering since 2000 — Answer: MINI
  25. 35. Many boy band fans — Answer: TWEENS
  26. 36. 2019 film that one reviewer called "purr-fectly dreadful" — Answer: CATS
  27. 37. Villainous chortle — Answer: HEHE
  28. 38. "Can I go now?" — Answer: AREWEDONE
  29. 39. Await settlement, as a payment — Answer: PEND
  30. 40. Partner of Parks, informally — Answer: REC
  31. 41. Goes well with — Answer: FITS
  32. 43. California's Big ___ — Answer: SUR. Hint: This rugged California coastline is famous for dramatic cliffs and ocean views 🌊
  33. 46. Band with the 1995 hit "Wonderwall" — Answer: OASIS
  34. 47. Clorox competitor — Answer: LYSOL
  35. 49. Individualist — Answer: LONER
  36. 50. Drink from a tub? — Answer: MOONSHINE
  37. 51. Concert broadcast that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, with "the" — Answer: OPRY
  38. 55. The Who's "Love, Reign ___ Me" — Answer: OER
  39. 56. Makeup of some face masks — Answer: MUD
  40. 58. Vast amount — Answer: SEA
  41. 60. Italian city known for its cheese — Answer: PARMA
  42. 61. Vapes — Answer: ECIGS
  43. 62. Georgia airport, for short — Answer: ATL
  44. 63. ___ dish — Answer: PETRI
  45. 65. Annual reason for lost sleep: Abbr. — Answer: DST
  46. 66. Fighting — Answer: ATIT
  47. 68. Pi follower — Answer: RHO
  48. 69. "Uhh ...," to Brits — Answer: ERM
  49. 70. Come back in — Answer: REENTER
  50. 73. Alternatives to gyro platters — Answer: KEBABS
  51. 76. Variety of rabbit or goat — Answer: ANGORA
  52. 78. What a tall collar covers — Answer: NAPE
  53. 80. Read quickly — Answer: SCAN
  54. 81. Gives the green light — Answer: OKS
  55. 83. "I've got this" — Answer: ONIT
  56. 84. Barely scrapes (by) — Answer: EKES
  57. 86. Social blunder — Answer: GAFFE
  58. 88. Amateur radio devotees — Answer: HAMS
  59. 89. Greeting in Brazil — Answer: OLA
  60. 90. Easily moved — Answer: PORTABLE
  61. 92. Arrive by car — Answer: ROLLUP
  62. 93. Gym staff member — Answer: TRAINER
  63. 96. Set of nine dancing in "The 12 Days of Christmas" — Answer: LADIES
  64. 97. 2017 figure skating biopic — Answer: ITONYA
  65. 98. Compels — Answer: FORCES
  66. 99. Things that typically build up during vacation — Answer: EMAILS
  67. 100. Easter purchase — Answer: EGGDYE
  68. 101. Social media tribute to a celeb, say — Answer: FANVID
  69. 104. Tech company exec — Answer: CIO
  70. 106. Hollywood workplaces — Answer: SETS
  71. 107. Major-leaguers — Answer: PROS
  72. 108. Something hard to face? — Answer: ACNE
  73. 110. Small bug? — Answer: COLD
  74. 111. ___ Minor — Answer: ASIA
  75. 112. Stevie Wonder's "___ She Lovely" — Answer: ISNT. Hint: Missing words in Stevie Wonder’s classic title, with a little contraction magic 🎶
  76. 114. Vex, with "off" — Answer: TEE
  77. 116. Summer on the Riviera — Answer: ETE
  78. 117. Onetime parent co. of Virgin Records — Answer: EMI
  79. 118. Led — Answer: RAN

The answer to “Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog” in the New York Times crossword is THEADCOUNCIL — a 12-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on February 8, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 45-Across. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog” answer

THEADCOUNCIL (12 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is THEADCOUNCIL.

Why the answer is THEADCOUNCIL

THEADCOUNCIL is the 12-letter solution that fits "Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 8, 2026 (45-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

February 8, 2026 (this puzzle) → THEADCOUNCIL. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on February 8, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for February 8, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Sunday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog”?

The answer is THEADCOUNCIL, a 12-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog”?

12 letters: THEADCOUNCIL.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on February 8, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 45-Across.

Can “Nonprofit group behind Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for February 8, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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