Charlie Vandergaw: Charlie Vandergaw Grizzly Man & Bear Man (photo/ video)
By Clarencia Cynrae on July 9th, 2008Updated Jul 9 2008
Charlie Vandergaw has been featured in a documentary by Animal Planet called “Stranger Among Bears”.
The State of Alaska has a new law to prosecute offenders who feed wild animals like bears. This act of feeding is a danger to humans especially if it encourages others to feed bears too.
Sean Farley, a research biologist, said the bears around Vandergaw’s cabin were bold. The bears had to be scared off by noisy cracker shots.
Alaska State has charged Vandergaw with 20 counts of illegally feeding wild game. If convicted, Vandergaw could be jailed for 1 year and fined $10,000.
July 9 2008
Charlie Vandergaw is Grizzly Man & Bear Man
Charlie Vandergaw is 70 years old. Charlie Vandergaw used to be a high school teacher. Now, Charlie Vandergaw is famous as “Grizzly Man” or “Bear Man.”
Charlie Vandergaw is unusual. The uniqueness of Charlie Vandergaw shows when he is willing to live in the wild. Charlie Vandergaw has a wife and nice home. However, Charlie Vandergaw has chosen to live half the year around in the wild. It is Charlie Vandergaw’s ambition to befriend wild animals and creatures.
Charlie Vandergaw is not afraid of losing his life. When Charlie Vandergaw lives out in the wild, he is isolated from communication. Charlie Vandergaw is unafraid of this situation.
Charlie Vandergaw feeds the bears around him. That is the special Charlie Vandergaw way of making friends with Grizzly bears. It could be that as the bears grew accustomed to cooked food, they lose their urge to feed on human flesh.
What will happen when Charlie Vandergaw runs out of food?
Stranger Among Bears – video link.
Please click here for more recent posts.
mobile device
July 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I think my jaw was on the floor, for the entire hour the show was on TV. “What makes this Charlie Vandergaw tick?”…and one can only imagine, WHY he is playing with (larger than life!) Granades,that could go OFF at any time! Its just not normal, and the feeding of them, is making them feel reassured in an artificial environment, of MAN against beast!
He should be stopped, before the confrontation of innocent lives (who don’t have doggie kibbles, on hand as a “Host/Guest-Gift”-really PO’s these dangerous predators, when they come into contact with people who are not eager to “meet and greet” these massive animals in a wild-life atmosphere, where ’startled furry outsiders’, are greeted more with rifles,or shotguns, both will be in for perhaps..the shock and fight of their lives!
Either way you look at it, its not good for either side, and… as for Charlie, the friendly mediator
I’m sure his days, are numbered-far less, as he ages. The Grizz named Cookie, already has his number, in her gigantic paw, its just a matter of when she will decide to cash his number in…and leave only skeletal remnants of a man–who thought he could play these high stakes… of Friend or Foe? My bet is on Cookie’s instincts to kick in and she will only look at him as “prime Steak”…as another winter approaches, and her tummy rumbles…”enough Doggie Kibbles, now lets go for prime Rib”….(Charlie!—has created a monster!…just hope he is able to come to his senses, before its too late!—for Man and Bear!)
July 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Marika,
I agree on that. Animals may get upset at some stimulis that is beyond our control and then …
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 am
I think This man should be left alone, he is not hurting anyone else and he is been doing this for 20 years.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
People should get a grip on reality. Charlie is hurting no one. Bear Haven is 50 miles outside of Anchorage (your need a plane to get to it) in the middle of the woods. These bears won’t be showing up at someone’s home looking for a handout. His days are numbered – yeah right. 3,600 and counting (6 months a year for 20 years). If something terrible does happen, he knew the consequences, and he will have died doing what he loves. Don’t they say that all the time?
The State wants to stop him because others might try to imitate him. So no one should climb mountains, skydive, jump motorcycles, or do any of the thousands of dangerous things that people do. He’s not suggesting that average Joe hand feed the first bear he comes across. People need to be accountable for themselves. Reminds me of the old saying “if Jimmy jumps off the bridge, will you jump with him?”
I really love the part (from the Animal Planet series) where the State official says that any bear which has become civilized enough to take food from a human must be put to death. Wow! Really! Let’s kill an animal that no longer acts dangerously. God help us all. I realize that bears are (and always will be) dangerous. Seems like the more humane thing to do would be to relocate any “tame” bear that wanders into a town to the middle of the forest, or perhaps a zoo. What about lion tamers in the zoo? Let’s shoot all those animals. How many babies, small kids and even adults are mauled / killed every year by pet dogs? Come on people, show some common sense.
Charlie has found himself. He’s just letting us know what can happen with a little trust. I watched the show and was completely amazed (and jealous). Leave him alone. He’s getting to a point where he’s starting to realize that the end is near (because of his age), so let him continue as he chooses.
Congrats Charlie, you are a lucky man.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:15 am
Charlie! Your the best! I love and appreciate the wonderfull things you are doing! The bears and all animals are special. I think the trust and bond you have developed with the Bears is outstanding! It is just like the trust made between me and my kitty cats!!!
For the hot-shots that think they are more of a man by wondering around the forest with fire arms to hunt the inocent animals, GET A LIFE!!! You want a hobby? Put your weapon away and go to the park and try to hit a baseball! Go the the court and try to shot a ball through a circle and dribble a ball! That is a sport! Hunting should be banned completely! It is pointless! Do you really need to eat a deer? A bear? Lion? Tiger?
Chickens, cows, and pigs are sufficient! Animals in the wild should be left at piece to live normal.
Charlie is a hero to me! I will personally see to it that I will send a donation check his way. I have the resources and ability to stand up for chalies cause and donate the funds for whatever the A%$h&%es fine him in court.
Animals have rights! I will never shed a tear if a hunter gets attacked by a wild bear. Would the hunter defend his home if someone came to thier territory in a threatning manner?
I love you Charlie and live forever my friend!!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 6:38 am
I LOVE CHARLIE!! and i am extremely jealous of what he does, just watching him on TV makes me happy and wishes i had his life, i think those people should leave him and those bears alone. there not even that domesticated at ALL, they choose to come! he doesnt force them. perfect example, when misty was injured he left her be to heal on her own, he didnt interfear with how they live at all, so what he takes care of them and shows them that were not all evil and just want to kill bears. i say leave him alone!! hes doing what he wants and he knows what the risks are!
September 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
The law is very flawed, and the logic is irrational. The bears were cute and Charlie did a great job with Bear Haven. He should be allowed to feed the bears. I abhor this dumb law. People do a lot of stupid stuff and copy things anyway; plus, the place is out in the middle of nowhere. I feel really bad for the guy. He cares for animals. We need more of these people.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Leave Charlie alone….I can’t believe the dumbass government is so bored they have decided to mess with Charlie. He takes care of the bears in a secluded place away from towns….why is it a big deal? I will come there if I have to to make a point. Humans are so shallow.
quote from Mahatma Ghandi “”The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
–Ghandi
Welll…..that would put the old U S of
A down in the dumps. As a country we treat animals horrible.
So…as I finish my law degree, I know now what I want to specialize in…..helping ppl like Charlie.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:46 am
When i was a boy most Americans used to live and let live. they did this because they realized that if they let someone do somthing they wanted to do then they could get to do the thing they wanted to do. sence we are all diferent we all like to do diffrent things. in recient years we have all been led along like sheep to think that we should fix and control everybody else not realizing in our foolishness that we are in fact taking away our own freeedoms in this process. there are laws agianst hunting too close to houses for fair reason and hunting is allowed far away from houses. like wise feeding bears close to houses might be a danger but anyone with an ounce of common sence should know that a cabin so far away that one has to fly a plain to it should be ok to feed bears there! if its ok to shoot a riffel there they should also be abel to feed any animal he wants! but the goverment gave no concideration to this when they passed the law about feeding bears. thats because they dont make freedom a priority any more. however the founding fathers knew somthing about human nature and from a law two hundred years ago Charlie will be abel to fight his goverment and challange the law. hopefully he will get a judge that puts restrictions on the law or just plain throws it out for being to vauge. Charlie is a good man because anyone who can gain the respect of grizzly bears has to be. good luck charlie fight it all the way to the supreme court! we should all think about the laws we pass because we pass them agianst ourselves!