He gave the bears names, regarded them as friends, and even went into the dangerous “Grizzly Maze” to get to know them better.
His tactics were contentious, nevertheless. Despite warnings from park officials about his dangerous conduct, Treadwell continued because he thought his relationship with the animals would shield him.
Treadwell was joined on what would be their last voyage by Huguenard, who also had a deep love for the natural world.
The pair was more vulnerable since they stayed late in the season, when bears go into a heightened feeding frenzy.
When air taxi pilot Willy Fulton arrived at the campground for a planned pickup, he was met with a graphic sight. A big bear that eats human corpses.
Soon after, rangers from Katmai National Park, under the command of Joe Ellis, arrived. An untouched supper, the couple’s ripped tents, and personal belongings were all over the place.
