The Grizzly Man Diaries Set to Air on Animal Planet

Say all you want about wanting to educate people Treadwell was stupid and reckless time and time again. He may have had his heart in the right place, but there is a place for human-animal contact...and that wasn't face-to-face with the grizzlies.

Of course living so closely among the bears finally led to his untimely death, a footnote that other aspiring wildlife adventurers may want to take note of as they consider their own forays into what some may call extreme outdoor education.

And don't forget Steve Irwin. I hardly think these are the only 2 guys to ever die while researching / documenting wildlife. They may be the first 2 to die on camera though.

I met Timothy Treadwell shortly before his death, at the time I was an assistant for Mr. DiCaprio and Treadwell was at the office seeking funding for what would be his last trip into the wilderness, all I could think of as this guy was talking about how he takes no safety precautions in the form or any offensive or defensive weapons was that hes going to get himself killed, I was thinking I should suggest that why doesnt he at least take some hand held air horns or pepper spray to at least in a extreme emergency have a chance to survive but I didnt say anything as I didnt want to intrude on his funding meeting, Leo seemed mostly interested in the photos of grizzlies with bloody faces because they were taken will eating....

Shortly thereafter Treadwell and his girlfriend were eaten.

For a complete picture of Treadwell you should really check out "Grizzly Man," the documentary on his life and death. Treadwell wasn't just an altruistic soul out in the world documenting bears for the betterment of mankind. He was a mentally unbalanced egotist with his own, often self-serving agenda. He was not a scientist and had no scientific or even practical understanding of the lives of grizzly bears, the Alaskan back country or it's ecology. His survival in that environment and the shear lack of respect he showed for it and the animals who called it home came only through luck or the grace of some higher power.

His forays into the wilderness were a detriment to the grizzlies and the other wildlife he said he loved. He acclimated them to human presence putting them at risk. He went so far as to tame a family of foxes feeding them by hand and setting up a long-term camp within their den.

Treadwell may have educated some on the importance of conservation, but the way he used wildlife in the process probably makes it all a net wash.

I can only hope this series presents the full picture of Treadwell's "work." But from the description presented here, that doesn't appear look likely.

This mans death is what people that have not smoked themselves stupid call natural selection.

He seemed like an unbalanced narcissist. I don't like to to bad-mouth the dead, but if it saves the life of some other misguided, lost soul, badmouth away!

'Untimely death..'

There's hardly anything untimely about it. I believe he survived a lot longer than was possible.

Jon got it correct!

Also, the bears were brown bears, not grizzlies.

Actually Paul, Brown Bears are grizzlies.

"The term "Brown Bear" is the more correct and scientific use for the specie. "Grizzly" is just common usage in the lower 48, having first been used during the Lewis and Clark expedition when they referred to "a brown bear with grizzled appearance". (DeVoto) All grizzly bears are actually brown bears, having originated in Eastern Siberia--- the Russian brown bear. The black bear is the only native bear in North America (ursus americanus)."

There is a lot that most people who are aware of Treadwell's death don't know. Another bear expert named Kevin Sanders who works in Yellowstone had access to photographs, incident diagrams, and interviews with people involved, and he did a full investigation. The full story is available to read on his website.

http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/Tim_Treadwell.html

I think Timothy was infact not too smart on how close he got to some bears he felt fear with,but I find his shows completely heart warming and AMAZING.He lived a life no one else has tried to attempt,and had his heart set on being close to nature.I watched a episode recently that he would live and die for these animals,and yet he did.Im sure he does not feel stupid or ill minded at all for dying for that bear.Either he made the bear feel threatened or the bear was completely ravenous.

Timothy Treadwell was an extraordinary human being. His death is a great loss.