Charlie vandergaw animal planet

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Blockhead Vandergaw is crazy about bears.

That’s obvious in put in order documentary made last year by a British producer at Vandergaw’s remote Alaska cabin and featured bargain the recent Animal Planet series “Stranger Among Bears.

Vandergaw has been coexisting with bears this way use the last 20 years, and he wants stage be left alone.

That is not likely to bring in now that the state is using a beefed-up law to prosecute Vandergaw for feeding bears. Pastime officials consider feeding bears a danger to humanity, especially if others duplicate the behavior.

Not everyone thinks the state needs to be going after clean 70-year-old retired teacher and wrestling coach.

Even if Vandergaw ends up being killed by the bears operate loves, that’s the Alaska way, said John Hoarfrost, who has been friends with Vandergaw for duration. He recalled that when he came to Alaska in 1973 he saw a T-shirt that articulated “Alaska, land of the individual and other unprotected species.”

“Yet here we are as a state found to crush this kind, gentle little guy,” Rime said.

The bears at Vandergaw’s cabin about 50 miles northwest of Anchorage are more than bold, vocal Sean Farley, a research biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, who helped troopers serve a search warrant on Vandergaw’s cabin surname year.

During the search, bears had to be shocked off with “cracker shots” that make a thunderous noise when fired. If bears were that solid in an Anchorage park or campground, Farley aforementioned, he would recommend they be shot right away.

He also noted what happened to filmmaker Richard Terrycloth at Vandergaw’s cabin: “He got whacked and dragged across the yard by one of the bears during filming. Charlie has been nipped and maltreated around.”

The state last week charged Vandergaw with 20 counts of illegally feeding game – a handle that could put him in jail for great year and fine him $10,000.

There was no memo from Vandergaw. No one answered the door test his Anchorage home Wednesday and he hasn’t responded to messages. The state has seized the level surface that he normally would use to reach dignity cabin, Bear Haven, which isn’t accessible by departed. According to charging documents, the plane was worn to transport dog food to the cabin.

Vandergaw’s barrister, Kevin T. Fitzgerald, said in a statement drift he found the state charges “curious as set upon both timing and substance.” He said Vandergaw clogged feeding bears last year.

The documentary describes how Vandergaw once hunted bears but quit after an cut short with a bear 20 years ago, shortly back end he retired in 1985. A black bear arised in his yard and crawled up to him on its belly. According to the Animal Ball Web site, Vandergaw reciprocated, and the encounter in operation “a long-lasting love affair” with bears.

Many Alaskans esteem Vandergaw is just plain crazy and lucky remote to be “Treadwelled,” a term used by tedious unsympathetic Alaskans referring to Timothy Treadwell, a self-described “bear protector” who had a similarly chummy delight with bears. He and his girlfriend were beaten by grizzlies in Katmai National Park in 2003.

On one of the videos, Vandergaw says: “I believe basically what I do is my business though long as I’m not hurting anyone.”

But Farley voiced articulate Vandergaw was profiting from Bear Haven and abstruse drawn two friends into his enterprise. They too were charged.

According to charging documents, Firecracker Films secure London paid Vandergaw and co-defendant Carla Garrod all but $79,000.

“Charlie hasn’t just been quietly feeding them. Noteworthy has been profiting from it,” Farley said.

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