Wildlife author killed, eaten by bears he loved

Anchorage Daily News ^ | October 8, 2003 | CRAIG MEDRED

[Calamari]

A California author and filmmaker who became famous for trekking to Alaska's remote Katmai coast to commune with brown bears has fallen victim to the teeth and claws of the wild animals he loved.

...The fearless former drug addict from Malibu, Calif. -- who routinely eased up close to bears to chant "I love you'' in a high-pitched, sing-song voice --

[txhurl]

I guess we should leave the girl entree alone. She was probably drug kicking and screaming up there.

Drug kicking and screaming away, too, I guess.

[bootyist-monk]

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

If anyone deserved to end up as bear crap, it's this guy.

Though I think that he was reckless and should have protected himself, he has proved that you don't need to shoot a bear on sight for protection. There are many ways to discorage attack, including using a soft cooing voice, they don't know what he is saying just the tone is enough. I have seen his films and I consider him an expert of sorts. I actually liked watching him play with the foxes more than the bears. But it was foolish not to bring a gun, just in case. He may have used politics for an excuse, but I think that when you get right down to it he was once again addicted, but this time to the adrenaline rush of being so close to death.

[mikegi]

I guess his second book will be titled: Inside Grizzlies.

Seems like a good place for a link to: Man Fights Bear for Salmon.

[headsonpikes]

I would be honored to end up in bear scat.

Well, sha-bop, sha-be-bop bam, sh-bibbity-treadwell- boobity bop.

It's hard to work in, really.

[TexasRepublic]

I think it is simply wonderful that some Liberals want to commune with bears -- I hope more do so in the future. Every encouragement should be given. Crocs like communing with humans also.

[lilylangtree]

Bears aren't tolerant of fools with high-pitched singing voices.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Last week the idiot that wanted to play witht tigers on stage and make um do tricks gets his throat ripped out, and now this...Sheesh, some people never learn.....

[Elliott Jackalope]

I really like seeing animals in the wild, and seeing wolves and bears has always been a special experience for me. However, I do not attempt to go close-up to them, and I don't sing to them, and I don't expect them to love me because I like animals. They are WILD ANIMALS, they have their own minds, their own behavior and their own agendas. Treating them like they are people wearing fur coats is a guaranteed prescription for disaster.

[Defiant]

Someone HAS to post that "crunchy in the middle" carton by Larson. A classic, and fitting on this story.

[AnAmericanMother]

We were talking about these guys before we knew who they were, and agreed that they didn't carry sufficient "bear medicine."

The reality is just so much weirder than we anticipated . . .

. . . . . . and funnier, too.

[wolficatZ]

• Oh my God, simply scrolling down to reveal the words "Gentle Ben" brings me out in a cold sweat. To employ the US vernacular, THIS SHOW SUCKED!!! I longed for the episode in which Ben regressed from the perfect pet to psychotic killing machine and ripped that annoying kid's head clean from his body before eating "mom and dad" and taking that (admittedly quite cool) boat/hover thing for a joy-ride. However this episode never came. Quite the worst piece of moralizing, sickly-sweet bile that ever crossed the pond.

http://www.jumptheshark.com/g/gentleben.htm

[txhurl]

omg i'm dyin

that is f hysterical

[Perseverando]

Forgive me, but somehow after reading all the comments I'm reminded of a song from the early '70's. I believe the name of the song was "Timothy." As I remember it, it was about 3 guys who got lost in a cave, and eventually only 2 came out. There was an insinuation of cannabalism if I'm not mistaken.

Words went something like "Timothy, where on earth can you be?"

Guess 'ol "eco-warrior" Timothy was cannabalized by his "earth brothers," the bears.

[ohiobushman]

I wonder if he was a PETA member?

[ohiobushman]

It has been reported the bear said"Taste like chicken to me!"

[TASMANIANRED]

Perhaps he should have tried a little harder to understand why they "hate us " so much. Plan for possibilities not probabilities..

[SuziQ]

The fearless former drug addict from Malibu, Calif. -- who routinely eased up close to bears to chant "I love you'' in a high-pitched, sing-song voice --

The poor bears probably couldn't stand it anymore!

I'm sorry the guy and his girlfriend are dead, but it was clearly their own stupidity that caused it.

[f.Christian]

hugs !

[mhking]

Tastes like chicken....

Just damn.

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