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.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Re your pic--

Delightfully tasteless! ROFL.

[Romulus]

. They said they weren't afraid because they had a 45 caliber handgun.

Since when are firearms legal in a national park? Color me sceptical about this story.

[Duramaximus]

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

Dummy..... they are also one of the largest carnivores on the North American continent.

Ooops.... I forgot they were from Malibu.

[wheelgunguru]

The ranger had a semiauto and shot 11 times. I was thinking Desert Eagle, maybe 50 cal. But it doesn't hold that many rounds. Tell me this outdoor professional didn't use a 9mm or 45 cal.

[U S Army EOD]

I really resent you people making fun of this great naturalist who sought nothing more than friendship and acceptance from his furry friends. I to have spent many years in the wild, without fire, without firearms, with out cold beer. I to am fixing to publish a book on my experiences by the name of "Living With Wild Chipmunks" or "Alvin and His Little Buddies". I just pray if you ever read of me being mauled by a renegade chipmunk, that you will not make lite of my misfortune.

[Kenny Bunk]

Can't these Malibu Hippies get anything right?

This was Tiger Attack Week!

Now they have totally messed up Bear Attack Week, which wasn't until Nov. 15th. But never mind. The week is still young. Let's go out there and set a record that those Indians and Bangladeshi's will never equal!

Shermy? Turk? swarthyguy? I need volunteers here, folks, and remember the rules ... no rubbing yourself with hamburger....

[martin_fierro]

A self-taught bear expert

That's like being "A self-taught bomb expert".

[joesnuffy]

12 gauge with slugs
Glock 20 with hard cast hot 10mm
wouldnt be the worst choice
There are others much better

[strongbow]

When I moved up here I bought a .44 magnum pistol for bear protection in the woods. I am now in the market for a pump shotgun the more I hear of the speed with which bears move. OTOH this "sensitive" caring type fool got himself, his girlfriend and two bears killed for his insane notion. The more I see the more I realize that liberalism and all of its hydra manifestations is a mental disorder.

[U S Army EOD]

Watch your mouth!!!!!!

[umgud]

I've hunted black bear, boar, deer and elk with my .454 Casull (SRH). I'm going to Alaska next June and I'll take it and a 45-70. Also, any cartridge for big bears needs to provide penetraion. This guy may have been using hollow points and probably was a 9mm or 45 acp. I'd think someone in this area would at least carry a .41 or .44 mag.

[Shermy]

Can't these Malibu Hippies get anything right?

In the recall election they thought Davis was running against George Bush. They don't get it.

[Waco]

Expert",,,,,,,Gee, i love that kinda talk.

[mel]

Any day now I expect to read Steve Irwin or Jeff Corwin of Animal Planet killed by alligator, snake, shark bite or something else along that line.

[U S Army EOD]

A combination of 12 guage slugs and a 44 mag pistol was used on the bear that attacked my daughters outing at Fort Richardson. I think they shot the young male at least six times which only SLOWED his attack. They had to shoot him a few more times to kill him. He had been seen at least 1/4 miles away the first time and was stalking them.

[wheelgunguru]

I'd think someone in this area would at least carry a .41 or .44 mag.

That's what I would think, but my Gun Digest, 2000 doesn't list any semiauto pistols w/10 shot clip capacity in any caliber heavier than 45 auto.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Bad LOL

[Alouette]

WARNING! GRAPHIC IMAGE. CLICK ON LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK: Bear Snack

[U S Army EOD]

I just sent an E-mail to the guys website asking if bears were still considered to be party animals signed Concerned Naturalist. I will let you know if they reply.