To me this is a film about both man and beast; about the invisible boundaries that exist between us; and about the ability and willingness to continue to co-exist on this planet; as we have for thousands of years; if we truly want it to be so.

The film tells Timothy Treadwell’s story – born in New York; former California surfer; frustrated actor; and then, the self proclaimed ‘Alaskan Grizzly Bear Protector.’

Treadwell spent 13 summers living amongst Grizzlies on Alaska’s Katmai Peninsula, until he and a female companion were tragically killed by one of them.

I found this film to be hilarious at times; quite sad at times; tragic, of course; but very enlightening in a most profound way.  Treadwell, I believe, truly meant well, and he truly had the best interests of these bears in his heart.  But in his exuberance and determination to protect them, I also believe, as many others do, that he had quickly stepped over an invisible line separating Man from Grizzly, or from other large animal predators that live on this planet.

“I AM One of Them!” he proclaims many times in the film.  He gives each of them a name; he touches them; he swims with them; and he sleeps in his tent very near these gigantic Grizzlies with his childhood teddy bear clutched in his arms.  Somehow, these 1,000 pound predators truly became Treadwell’s own cuddly little teddy bears.  “I love them, and they love me, and I will die for them!”  And he very tragically did.

Treadwell and his companion were killed by a very hungry old Grizzly in the fall of 2003; a bear desperately in need of food to survive before winter set in; a bear that must have looked upon Timothy Treadwell as its survival ticket, not as One of them.

I’ve been chased through the forest a few times in my life by bears, and if I had been the very passionate Timothy Treadwell, I would probably have stopped in my tracks, turned around, and yelled out;   “I love You!  Can we have lunch together?”

Instead, I would usually hurriedly toss the pursuing bear a few of the fish I had just caught, and quickly be on my way, hoping Mr. Bear preferred fish for lunch, instead of me.  And hoping that I had been forgiven for invading his territory – uninvited.

But I was truly mesmerized by Treadwell’s utter enthusiasm and determination ‘to protect these bears, at any cost.’  And like Timothy Treadwell, I truly believe that Grizzlies and other wild animals truly deserve their living space on earth; and I, like Treadwell, believe in their inherent right to co-exist with us on this planet.

And very sadly, also like Treadwell, I truly believe that they are quickly running out of such living space in our modern, concrete, hustle and bustle world.

There is some wonderful footage of Grizzly bear life in the wild in this movie; and there is some truly captivating footage of Treadwell’s interaction with a family of foxes who reside near his campsite.

Viewing this interaction between Man and Fox immediately made me wish that Mr. Treadwell had wanted to be ‘The Fox Whisperer,’ instead of ‘The Grizzly Whisperer.’  We could probably all use some more education on their fascinating lives in the wild as well.

I, myself, have often thought of moving to the wild; living in harmony with Mother Nature; and perhaps, living with, and studying and observing and documenting, a wild animal family.  But my first choice would not be Mr. Treadwell’s first choice - a truly powerful predator like the Grizzly.

But again, I truly believe that Treadwell had their best interests at heart, as every animal and nature lover still does.

If you, yourself, are a nature or animal lover, check out this documentary; and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

An Author’s Den member, Lisa Adams, has already written an article detailing her perspective on this documentary; you might want to check that out, too.

©2006, Ed Kostro