Bear Expert and Companion Killed in Bear Attack at Alaska Park ( New View on Old Story )

AP, via TBO.com ^ | Oct 7, 2003 | By Rachel D'oro

[greydog]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A self-taught bear expert who once called Alaska's brown bears harmless was one of two people fatally mauled in a bear attack in the Katmai National Park and Preserve.

The bodies of Timothy Treadwell, 46, and Amie Huguenard, 37, both of Malibu, Calif., were found Monday at their campsite when a pilot arrived who was supposed to take them to Kodiak, state troopers said Tuesday.

Treadwell, co-author of "Among Grizzlies: Living With Wild Bears in Alaska," spent more than a dozen summers living alone with and videotaping Katmai bears. Information on Huguenard was not immediately available.

The Andrew Airways pilot contacted troopers in Kodiak and the National Park Service after he saw a brown bear, possibly on top of a body, at the camp near Kaflia Bay.

Park rangers encountered a large, aggressive male brown bear within minutes of arriving. Ranger Joel Ellis said two officers stood by with shotguns as he fired 11 times with a semi-automatic handgun before the animal fell, 12 feet away.

"That was cutting it thin," said Ellis, the lead investigator. "I didn't take the time to count how many times it was hit."

The victims' remains and camping equipment were flown Monday to Kodiak. Ellis said investigators hope to glean some information from video and still cameras.

As the plane was being loaded, another aggressive bear approached and was killed by rangers and troopers. The bear was younger, possibly a 3-year-old, according to Bruce Bartley of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The victims' bodies were flown to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy.

Dean Andrew, owner of Andrew Airways, said the pilot was too upset to comment. The company had been flying Treadwell to Katmai for 13 years and Huguenard for the last couple of years. Andrew said Treadwell was an experienced outdoorsman.

Treadwell was known for his confidence around bears. He often touched them, and gave them names. Once he was filmed crawling along the ground singing as he approached a sow and two cubs.

Over the years, Park Service officials, biologists and others expressed concern about his safety and the message he was sending.

"At best he's misguided," Deb Liggett, superintendent at Katmai, told the Anchorage Daily News in 2001. "At worst he's dangerous. If Timothy models unsafe behavior, that ultimately puts bears and other visitors at risk."

That same year Treadwell was a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman," describing Alaska brown bears as mostly harmless "party animals."

In his book, Treadwell said he decided to devote himself to saving grizzlies after a drug overdose, followed by several close calls with brown bears in early trips to Alaska. He said those experiences inspired him to give up drugs, study bears and establish a nonprofit bear-appreciation group, called Grizzly People.

Grizzly and brown bears are the same species, but "brown" is used to describe bears in coastal areas and "grizzly" for bears in the interior.

The deaths were the first known bear killings in the 4.7-million-acre park on the Alaska Peninsula.

[U S Army EOD]

No his mistake was not getting the bear to read the book. He had written the book and understood how bears behave. The bear had not read the book and had no concept on how bears were supposed to act.

[far sider]

Based on this genius's experience I'd say he is essentially right. He's probably done this a hundred times before with no problem. Therefore, I conclude that bears are perfectly harmless....99% of the time.

[OldCorps]

After seeing the episode in which Steve Irwin crawled into and laid in a bed full of diamondback rattlers, I concluded that he was insane, not brave...

Is he the Ausie crocodile guy? I've been waiting to see the episode where his empty head is snapped of by a croc.

These nature fools who get a rush playing with deadly animals are the ultimate Darwin awardees. Hope they didn't spawn any offspring before they both got et.

[OldCorps]

What we need are more bears and tigers. Exactly. To get rid of stupid libs.

[U S Army EOD]

Read "Clan of the Cave Bear".

[U S Army EOD]

Assies don't taste very good which is what keeps him alive.

[gracex7]

Bump for Kevin!!

[OldCorps]

is it legal to carry firearms in national parks in Alaska? what would happen to me if i did carry to defend myself, but it is illegal?

just trying to learn the situation.

thanks for your contribution

[Aracelis]

Figures...he was from California.

[Rebelbase]

The narrow Bering Strait land bridge was supposed to be a rich feeding ground for that bear.

[Rebelbase]

Firearms for Personal Protection National Park Service Publication. (PDF file)

[gracex7]

Hey, Bob. Kevin's getting a kick outta this story. maybe we'll get him to be a freeper yet!

[Rebelbase]

An intersting site, Defenseless Victim Zone

[OldCorps]

The little buggers would then sit right out in the middle of the road and start pawing the the ground fixing to charge. If you weren't fast enough, they would run right up to your pickup truck and BITE OFF YOUR TIRES. ...

Heck, when i was up in Wyoming last year, my son and I were charged by two jackalopes. I actually was gored by one. After that incident, i went to Douglas and got a jackalope hunting license. Jackalopes are much more agressive than any other member of the rabbit family.

[Centurion2000]

Once he was filmed crawling along the ground singing as he approached a sow and two cubs.

TOO STUPID FOR WORDS

[Publius6961]

Ummm...
Excuse me for appearing dense, but...

Can we really continue to call this person a "bear expert"?

[ASA Vet]

Doubtful, he'd have to learn how to turn on his computer.

Please tell him I said that.

[carton253]

ROTFLMBO!!!!

[strongbow]

Sorry to hear about the attack on your daughters, hope nobody got hurt before they got the bear. Were they out on the paved trail on the highway or back in the woods? My wife said she saw a black bear coming out of the woods while driving back to the valley one day, I've never seen one there. Up till now I have kept my .44 in my backpack (not smart I know) but I plan to keep it in my holster now and add a 12g pump in future. Was the bear on Ft Rich a black or brown?

[sphinx]

Have you ever heard of this horrible animal plague spawning on the west coast?

Ping this to Jimmy Carter. He had a similar close call in a canoe. Savage little buggers ....