Yes, indeedy-do!
Posted on 09/02/2009 10:18:29 AM PDT by jazusamo
Alaska is a land of contrasts. Thirty minutes in a bush plane will transport a visitor to another world, somewhere over the rainbow-trout streams. Glaciers of turquoise ice float next to forests in this wilderness. Bear country, as nature intended -- and then altered by man.
It is a fitting place for eccentric bear enthusiast Charlie Vandergaw to play by his own rules.
"That's what I like about Alaska, because I can live like I want to live. Fish or hunt, and you don't have to answer to anyone out here. You're not controlled by other people," Vandergaw said.
But he does need to answer to the grizzlies. They are among the largest predators walking the planet, quietly moving through the last remnants of wild nature -- and into Vandergaw's imagination.
"I think I'm mesmerized by grizzly bears. I love the black bears, but there's just something about a grizzly bear that is hypnotic to me," he said.
By anyone's standard, Charlie Vandergaw lives a life less ordinary. The 71-year-old retired science teacher from Anchorage has spent the last two decades in the remote Alaskan bush where, by his own choice, his closest neighbors are animals powerful enough to kill him with a swipe of their 5-inch claws.
"I got started on this innocent enough. I was living out here alone and they became friends. A couple different ones actually came in and sought my friendship and once I had that happen to me I was lost," Vandergaw said.
Vandergaw has admittedly succumbed to the spell of bears. He's carved a life for himself out of pine trees and dirt, constructing a cabin he calls "Bear Haven," along with a few other outpost buildings. Otherwise, his remaining 40 acres are untouched.
(Video and pics at link)
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Me too. The chickadees can be bold and aggressive. They’re the ones dancing around on the feeders as soon as we fill and rehang them. We always rush back into the garage and slam the door on them. It’s chilling.
I dunno, Snackwell is still pretty dang funny.
Some people don’t have the sense God gave a parsnip.
I've been buzzed to get my attention when they want peanuts. :-)
Snackwell goes good with milk.
Someone should live with ptarmigans. They are tamed and cute. Only problem is they are not well known because of rabbits keep them down.
If you say so, I believe it. :-)
Question: Are Oregon sage hens a type of ptarmigan? Where I hunted for years in Eastern OR there used to be many but they mostly disappeared.
Sage hens are a grouse, which is a ptarmigan. Ptarmigans turn white and have feathery feet, which differenciates from other grouse.
Thanks for the info, appreciate it.
The punchline hasn’t happened yet - it comes when Charlie gets et.
Yes, indeedy-do!
And are likely to suffer the same fate.
And are likely to suffer the same fate.
This is about what we go through a year isn't it?
DEY HAZ A FLAVR.
Best to comply immediately. If you’re out and forget to buy peanuts, go back for them. DO NOT show up at the bird feeder without them! [shudder]
Tonight’s Menu: Bear Soup
Geez George....is that the new Charmin ad publicity shot?
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