Bear Advocate an Enigma in Death [Treadwell feeds the bears, update]

Associated Press via Newsday (Long Island, NY) ^ | January 3, 2004, 2:35 PM EST | JEREMIAH MARQUEZ

[Criminal Number 18F]

LOS ANGELES -- Timothy Treadwell's death came just the way he had predicted. Treadwell and his girlfriend were mauled by a 1,000-pound grizzly bear last October in a remote section of Alaskan wilderness that Treadwell knew well after years of living among its bear population.

That Treadwell was killed doing what he loved did not surprise many of those who knew him. He had acknowledged his forays into the backcountry were tempting fate.

He had started an environmental group and received donations from celebrities such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio, in part by saying the bears he loved were in jeopardy. He spun colorful stories about his adventures for the Discovery Channel, David Letterman's late-night audience and the Walt Disney Co.

What few knew about Treadwell was that much of his life was an invention.

[Criminal Number 18F]

When this incident occurred in October there were a lot of threads on it. How surprising (not), to find this Hollywood darling was a phony. Even his name and his autobiography are fake.

Like I've said, enter the forest, enter the food chain. That is reality, with which Mr Treadwell was unfamiliar... until it was too late.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

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[Khurkris]

He was known in Sunset Beach as an interesting character.

[RLK]

Treadwell was killed doing what he loved did not surprise many of those who knew him.

----------------------

Sort of the same way people contract AIDS.

[G.Mason]

I just loved the part about him fleecing the "do-gooders".

However upon reading the entire article, I have determined that the article shall assume it's rightful place in the TONI file.

"TONI" ....... Things of no importance.

[Dallas59]

The bear just wanted the guys picinc basket....

[Pan_Yans Wife]

In the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's, a character is talking about the lead character, played by Audrey Hepburn.

And they say, "She is a phoney, but a real phoney."

It seems that Treadwell's friends thought the same of him.

[catpuppy]

Live by the bear, die by the bear.

[raybbr]

Critics said Treadwell's forays into bear country could encourage copycats and worried the mauling death of Treadwell and his girlfriend, 37-year-old Amie Huguenard, would turn public opinion against them.

"Bears are bears, and the sooner we treat them as bears instead of humans in a bear suit it will be less dangerous," said Tom Smith, a biologist at the Alaska Science Center.

At first I thought they were talking about people on welfare.

[GladesGuru]

"He was a con artist, but boy, he pulled it off," Queeney said. "The man was truly a riddle wrapped in a sleeping bag. I don't know if any of us will ever know who he really was."

He proved who he really was, or should I have said what he was to become - bear scat.

I will suggest him for a Darwin Award.

[ummark]

I quess reasonable people would conclude that putting oneself in close proximity to half-ton omnivores who are territorial and unpredictable, and perhaps hungry, could be deemed suicidal. What a fool.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I will suggest him for a Darwin Award.

I'm pretty sure that some FReeper did write to some Darwin Award website when the story first broke, and the people there were just appalled. Apparently they're on the PC end of liberal, and they didn't see the humour in this fellow's expiration.

Me, thirty years from now if you say "Timothy Treadwell" I'll crack a grin and probably not remember why... it'll just be instinctive, like bears eating tasty morsels that approach singing love mantras.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Coleus]

`

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the ping...that's a brown bear; all I have to deal with are black bears. They're nice (LOL).

[Aaron0617]

I quess reasonable people would conclude that putting oneself in close proximity to half-ton omnivores who are territorial and unpredictable, and perhaps hungry, could be deemed suicidal. What a fool.

Speaking of which incase anyone didn't hear about today's bear lover...

Russian Bear Expert Is Killed in the Wild -

[LibKill]

Rules for a long life:

1. When unarmed, avoid animals with big claws, big teeth, tusks, horns and/or big enough to stomp you to death.

2. Avoid the habu, cobra, krait, and all their relatives. If you get bit you will only have 20 minutes left to drink.

4. Do not engage in promiscuous sex.

5. Do not do business or political deals with anyone who is a Klintoon or relative or friend or associate of same.

[csvset]

"Bears are bears, and the sooner we treat them as bears instead of humans in a bear suit it will be less dangerous,"

Lol.

[MissAmericanPie]

"Charismatic in life, Treadwell had become an enigma in death."

Con artist, crook, imposter, he became more than an engima in death, he became what a bear does in the woods as well.

[Coleus]

Yea, I know, I just wanted to point out that the "experts" don't know too much. I remeber reading a news clip last week where some Russian Bear expert was also mauled and mutilated, parts were everywhere. The best thing to do is to keep them under control and not to over populate them and to stay away from them.

[anonymous_user]

"Man... wrapped in a sleeping bag.

Sort of a Bear-ito. *buh-dum-pshhh!*