Grizzly Man

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akivory

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Feb 5, 2001
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I just finished watching ,Grizzly Man ,the documentary about Timothy Tredwell.
It scares me to to think there are people with the mentality of this guy.
I just hope that no one will make him into some kind of hero.
 
A quick google search says he thought grizzly bears were harmless until he got eaten or some such thing.

So was he some sort of hippy, or what now?
 
I have read his book "Among Grizzlies" as well as both books about Tim Treadwell, and yes kozak6, he was self-proclaimed "Eco-Warrior", who just also happened to be a complete idiot.

Many of Treadwell's stories about his time among the bears have not held up to investigation well, especially his claims of saving bears from poachers in the Katmai Nation Park.

He was a conman and a liar and sadly a niave young woman and 2 bears died as a result of his foolishness.
 
PS...unfortunately his followers at "Grizzly People" are making a matyr/hero out of him. Alaskan park officials say they have seen an increasing trend of tourist showing up with his book and wanting to know how to "get close to the bears".

Tim Treadwell may not be done killing people yet.
 
I'm not especially scared of wild animals, we get a bear around here in the summer sometimes, down from the hills to the north. They wander around until they realize there's not much food for them here, then they go back.

After I read the story about him cozying up to the grizzlies, it creeped me out. I started watching for anything on the trails, even deer, for a while.

He led an undisciplined life. I think his grizzly fixation was a way of getting serious about things. Poor judgement, that.

The Federal government is just now getting involved in tracking down and prosecuting ecological terrorists. They are some crazy people.
 
From what I've read and heard, Treadwell anthropomorphized the bears he studied. His approach to interacting with them reflected that attitude. Whether he did it to sell books or if he actually believed his characterizations, it led to a foolhardy disregard for his own safety and that of his companion.

Wild animals are just that. Trusting human love and understanding to overcome predatory instincts doesn't work in the civilized world. Why Treadwell assumed it would work with bears is is a mistake worth remembering.
 
I highly recommend renting this documentary.The biologist interviewed said there are over 35,000 grizzles in Alaska.A resident can kill one every four years with a $25 permit.I do not hunt bears but usually buy a permit ,when moose hunting, in case I run into one and have to kill it.In a large areas of the interior you can kill one every year because the population is high enough to seriously impact the moose population.
I have had numerous encounters with bears and have found in most part they do not want to have any thing to do with humans.
 
Kind of off topic, but after reading akivory's post, I would have to say that in general, I am more worried about getting smacked by a moose than attacked by a Grizz. I have encountered bears (blacks not grizzlies to be fair) and moose while hunting...the bears run away, the moose stands there and looks at you like you are an idiot for being in his area, and I have had them come towards me sniffing like they were curious what I was. I have also had two moose (at different times and in different places) run up behind me when I turn away to leave then stop and stare at me when I turned around. Much more disconcerting behavior than I have observed from any bear I have ever been around.
 
It is kind of a hard lesson to fond that you are not on the top of the food chain. Humans, without their weaponry, are really pretty low down that food chain.
 
NPR did one of their "radio safaris" on this guy shortly prior to his death. In interviews, he did come across as a bit odd; maintained he could talk to the bears and all.

I suppose psychologists could have fun with that trend of getting up close and personal with dangerous beasties; swimming with sharks, keeping venemous snakes as pets and the like. Overcoming fear? Risk-taking behavior?
 
mwerner said:
NPR did one of their "radio safaris" on this guy shortly prior to his death. In interviews, he did come across as a bit odd; maintained he could talk to the bears and all.
Click to expand...

Perhaps he said something they did'nt like? Bears have feeling too ya know!:grumpy:
 
He was a nut of a particular type that all seem to come up here from Southern California.
Predator control is a big issue up here.Grizzlies wreak havoc on moose calves.
Last fall I floated the Porcupine River ,on the southern edge of ANWAR ,on a caribou hunt. This area has become thick with wolves and bears and we did not see a single moose in 150 miles.A few days ago we had a moose in our yard.
Hitting moose in cars kill many more than bears do.
 
That imbicile lived with the bears and didnt bring anything to use as a weapon. As he was being eaten by a bear, he was recorded screaming for his girlfriend to hit the bear with the frying pan. :jerkit:

Proof of the insanity of his followers is the fact that they still believe in the wizard of OZ, even after they found the old man behind the curtain.
 
I saw nothing in the documentary that indicated he believed he was safe. He made many references throughout as to the danger of his activities.

I think he liked to live on the edge, the same way a big wave surfer or a rock climber does. He just did so in an unconventional fashion. I also believe he got off on the idea of being eaten by a bear and getting pooped-out of its bowels after becoming fully digested and one with the animal. This guy was that far-out.

It's a totally fascinating documentary.
 
I agree with komondor...He always made it clear that he was constantly in danger, and could get killed at any given moment...He was a thrill seeker, and had the balls to do something none of you would ever try to do. The guy is flat out hilarious at times. He was definately an original. It is sad he took his GF into the wilderness with him, but some of you guys need to get your facts straight about this film before you blow it out yer rears.
 
As far as the documentary goes komondor, you may be right. I think you're on the money about his thrill seeking personality and his "scat" fetish as well. It'll be on the Discovery Channel this Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 o'clock. Repeated Sat. for those who want to catch it.

And knifenutz, here are some additional facts/resources that paint a broader picture and may account for some of the other opinions on this thread:

"I’m much more likely to be killed by an angry sport hunter than a bear," he said decisively. "I’m in more danger here in San Francisco," he added.
Treadwell, 36, was speaking to me by phone from a cheap hotel in San Francisco’s Tenderloin . . .
Click to expand...

Treadwell lets you know right away that he’s not a scientist and that his life with bears comes from his heart, not his head.
Click to expand...

http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/go/gizmo/1999/tim.html

and

He filmed himself chanting, "I love you, I love you," as he inched up to a grizzly.
Click to expand...

Treadwell's methods of chumming up to grizzlies, however, were considered unsound by much of the bear-research community. He gave the bears names like Mr. Chocolate and Booble. . . . Scientists belittled him for his anthropomorphizing.
Click to expand...

http://outside.away.com/outside/news/200401/200401_blood_brothers_1.html
 
I saw this documentary and have to say he was definiteley crazy...Did you see him screaming about the park rangers and about how they were after him? He also had a bunch of drug problems and alcohol problems before he became the "Bear Man" which im sure may have contributed to his insanity. Their is no doubt in my mind that he was completely crazy and may get more people killed because of his stupidity.
 
In fact, Treadwell was psychotic, and had a long documented history of anti-social behavior among humans. He wasn't unintelligent, just insane and undereducated in animal behavior. Some of his footage shows remarkable interactions between bears and between bears and humans. Too bad there wasn't a film made with just the raw footage and without his commentary, it would likely be more educational than "The Bear" was.
 
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