I'm wondering what you all think about the "Grizzly Man"?

Question

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the "Grizzly Man" was Timothy Treadwell, an environmentalist and activist who loved bears and actually ended up getting killed by one along with his girlfriend in the summer of 2003. There is a documentary about his travels with the bears, his death by them, and interviews with friends, authorities, and people who knew him. The movie is called "Grizzly Man." I'd just like to know your thoughts on him....Was he just a crazy animal activist... or was he inspired by a greater cause? Was he mentally stable... or just passionate?

Answer 1

You seem to forget that he lead a young, innocent girl to her horrible death. He was delusional.

Answer 2

Timothy was a little crazy, that is beyond doubt.  He was well meaning perhaps, but went about it the wrong way spreading his message i think.  A former drug addict, he never really seemed at peace with himself until he discovered Alaska.  During his stay, he had countless encounters with grizzlies, some fearful, but most harmless.  His camera footage from this time is amazing!  

I think Timothy may have been well intentioned, but did his work too carelessly.  For his life, Amy's, and also for the bears.  His number one mistake was NOT CARRYING PEPPER SPRAY .  Any camper in bear country, and every ranger and bear biologist knows, you must carry this.  While it is true that most bears are peaceful if left alone and just observed, it only takes one to end the story.  With Timothy's and Amy's deaths, it reinforces into the public eye that grizzlies are maneating killers, which really isnt true. Many people have coexisted with bears for years, the key is: don't push them! and protect yourself by any means necessary.  This man camped in the middle of bear trails, did not carry bear spray, or use electric fencing.  It was a tragedy waiting to happen i must say.  I might add that he was the only person killed in our known history of Katmai park.  It would be like going into a dark alley in an inner city every night without protection. You may make it a day, week, but sooner or later you will die.  If he hadnt been camped in the middle of a bear trail with absolutely no protection whatsoever, he would most likely be alive to this day.  Here is some interesting reading from a man who's researched and lived around bears for many years, who knew Treadwell.

http://www.cloudline.org/treadwell.html

Answer 3

He was a complete idiot that managed to get an innocent girl killed because she believed in him. Old Cliche, but still true, a bear does not understand where the food ends and the hand begins. It is all protein to him

Answer 4

Anyone who actually feels more at home with wild bears than human beings is categorically unstable, IMO.  He did champion some truly noble causes, but he was pretty much off his rocker.  

I feel sorry for him, but a more fitting death I cannot imagine.  He's the kind of person that gives environmentalism a bad name.

Answer 5

I think he pushed the limits and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong bear.

Answer 6

He was a crazy one... he was not mentally stable... he was into drugs when he first started in Alaska, but said something like the bears helped him off drugs... he flew into rages against the federal government agencies... he petted bears, cooing, "I love you" and other sickening stuff like that. there were many other things in the movie that showed he was unstable.

his heart was in the right place, but his head was messed up, man.

I live in northern alaska, and you just don't play around with bears, wolves and stuff like that. you respect them, they respect you, but you keep a respectable distance and honor their territorial rights.

treadwell got what he asked for, a heap of trouble, sad as it may be, as noble as he may have appeared to some.

Answer 7

I think of it as Evolution in action.

Answer 8

He sounds passionate - just like Steve Irwin - who also had the misfortune to be killed - in his case a stingray finished him off - but I am sure that is the way they would both have wanted to go!

Answer 9

I don't know if he was an idiot or if he was mentally impaired, but his actions were stupid.  No one who knows anything about wild animals will go anywhere near a grizzly bear, let alone try to live amongst them.  Heck, most wild animals are dangerous and not particularly friendly to humans.  I wouldn't bother a _squirrel_, let alone full-grown grizzlies.  He showed zero respect for the bears by anthropomorphizing them and disturbing them.  I'm only surprised he wasn't hurt sooner.

Answer 10

He put entirely to much faith in these bears.  He thought because he loved them, they loved him.  It's really a shame he got himself and his very trusting girlfriend killed.  A wild animal will always be a wild animal.  Even those raised in captivity by loving owners still have wild instincts.