Kraky,

The guy did have the best footage I've ever seen, and it was interesting for sure.

The one thing you forget though, he ended up getting all that footage because he was an absolute fool. He took no precaution, got way too close, and he pushed this in every situation he was in too. Those bears are not what he wanted you and everyone to think they are, tame teddies. He was very convincing to the unedjucated though, now they know the WHOLE truth though, don't they. The guy was playing Russian Rulette with 5 rds in the cylinder and finally bit it, wonder why? Comparing him to people in other fields of endevor that take every possible precaution, use their freakin brain to analyze and minimize the risk, is absurd. These people understand the risks they cannot eliminate, doing nothing to eliminate risks they could would brand them a fool as well. Treadwell was a fool, and is now known by his folly, something most could see coming long ago.

I think he would have had a lot of simpathy if he'd of edjucated people on their unpredictability, carried a rifle, kept his distance, camped in an appropriate location, took every precaution, put his ego away, and taught the true nature of these animals instead of this fairytail idealistic notion he insisted on conveying at every turn.

Now they can dedicate his films to him, his girlfriend and the Japanese guy who've now ALL been eaten. His BS, demented perspective on bears will not be spread to the extent it had been any longer, I and a whole lot of other people are thankfull of that. This will help save some human lives now, you know, what should have been the emphasis in his films to begin with and we are the more important species of the two ya know...

kraky: I have to take exception to the comparison with this "bear nut" with astronauts and military fighter pilots. The latter two categories consist of people who willingly take risks BUT: 1) they are highly trained professionals who understand the risks and take appropriate precautions and 2) they have a MISSION of helping defend the freedom of people like the "bear nut" to be stupid if they so desire and/oradvance science for the benefit of their country, and ultimately all of us. "Bear nut" does NOT deserve to be put in anywhere near the same category. Jim

I don't blame Tredwell for the death of his girlfriend, she had a free will of her own, and chose to go.
They both knew, as do we all, the dangers of such antics, and they paid dearly for it.
You won't see me doing such things without a firearm! ~~~Suluuq

"Irresponsible behavior" yes it was.
MISSOULA, Mont. � The leading expert on grizzly bear recovery in the northern Rockies says a bear mauling in Alaska a week ago was prompted by irresponsible behavior, and could cause big setbacks for grizzlies everywhere.

Wildlife author and filmmaker Timothy Treadwell, known to cavort with wild bears, was found dead Monday in an Alaska preserve. His girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, also was mauled to death.

Two bears were then later shot by Alaska State Troopers investigating the scene.

Experts say Treadwell was long ago warned he should stop playing with wild bears, because it was dangerous for both him and the bears.

He didn't stop, and other filmmakers began to mimic him, documenting their own up-close encounters with grizzlies in Alaska and in Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

Bear biologists said Treadwell didn't need to die, not if he would have followed standard rules for staying out of the way of wild bears.

"People shouldn't see this incident as representative of the behavior of wild bears," said Chris Servheen, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the northern Rocky Mountains. "There is a lot more to it than that. This whole incident could have been avoided; it's a tragedy all the way around."

Increasing fear of bears works against efforts to protect and recover healthy populations of grizzly bears in the northern Rocky Mountains, biologists said.

Sterling Miller, senior wildlife biologist with the National Wildlife Federation, said he's found that whenever a bear injures or kills someone in Alaska, there is a corresponding increase in the number of bears killed "in defense of life and property."

He said people need to realize that bears are wild animals, and need to give them a lot of space when going into bear country.

Self-styled experts who film themselves playing with bears gives the public a dangerous message, Servheen said.

Other biologists agreed.

"Many years ago, I told (Treadwell) that if he were injured or killed, a lot of bears would be killed as well," Miller said. "But he just wouldn't hear of it. He was very naive."

Treadwell ignored such warnings, insisting that he had a special gift, that bears accepted, even welcomed, his presence in Katmai National Park.

Treadwell was known to make camp in dense brush on trails thick with grizzlies, pressing in close to the bears.

BTTS
T

I agree with another post is self taught bear expert nutcase for Dumb A_ _ ? I can't believe the wildlife department allowed him to simply harrass the Brown Bears in that Area. Now two Bears have been killed just because some self proclaimed expert got his Dumb A _ _ ate. Myself I think he got what he deserved. I do however feel sorry for his girl friend as she was to dumb to realize the danger after being fed abunch of crap from him. You know what you call a self proclaimed bear expert in Alaska.....You got it LUNCH. Darn shame the bears had to die for just being bears.

I can not believe let alone understand why the dept. of wildlife allowed this nut or anyone else do this? They regulate everything from taking a crap out in the woods to were you can walk. They clearly knew and admited the guy was endangering his life but was also endangering his girl friend. It's one thing for an individual to become bear meat but for this individual also involve a goo goo eyed girl is another. Now there are two dead bears and it is incredable how the spin this guy's shit to make the general public fill sorery for this. They need to seeze the SOB's assets from exploiting/killing the bears and fine the dept of wildlife for incompentence. This money could to attracting more SOB's like this to remove from the gene pool and pay the expenses necessary process these nuckle heads form the world. But not at the expense of removing bears.