In 2005, acclaimed English speaking German film director, Werner Herzog, decided to create a film documentary chronicling the life of the individual known as “The Grizzly Man,” Timothy Treadwell, a man with an almost uncommon enthusiasm for bears living in the wild.

Treadwell was especially fond of tracking – and living with – Grizzly Bears. And, in fact, he spent thirteen summers of his life in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Over that time, Treadwell got to know many of the Grizzlies, their habits and their tendencies and he believed, incorrectly as it turned out, that the bears had grown to trust him.

Herzog’s impressive Documentary film, which had its debut in 2006 at Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival, covers Treadwell’s thirteen year odyssey which ended in 2003 when he and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were attacked, killed and partially devoured by one of the bears that they had closely followed.

Eighty-five hours of film footage, much of it actually shot by Treadwell himself (that covers his continuing interaction with the bears) including many, many interviews with people who knew him well or were actually involved in the annual summertime adventures, were condensed and edited by Herzog into a compelling true-life adventure that ended tragically.

Produced jointly by TV’s The Discovery Channel and by Lion’s Gate Entertainment, the film was hailed by critics when it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. Famed film and TV critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 4 stars, his highest rating, of course. Other critics were just as kind.

Interestingly, Treadwell received many warnings from Katmai National Park and Preserve management and fish and game professionals over the course of his thirteen year ongoing adventure. They told him repeatedly that his presence out in the wild with the animals would endanger him – or them – or both.

Treadwell, however, was convinced that he had passed the point of danger … that these deadly predators – Grizzly Bears – accepted his presence and that he and, ultimately, his girlfriend, as well, were in no danger. Clearly, his assessment was wrong and his death was gruesome and unfortunate … but avoidable.

There have been no further attempts by humans to “live with Grizzles” since Treadwell’s untimely death in 2003. It’s likely to remain that way. The fact is that Grizzly Bears are wild, untamed animals – and predators – living and roaming freely in their natural habitat. They are remarkably aggressive … incredibly strong … lethal and deadly and there is no reason why any human being should believe that he or she can safely live with these animals and not face mortal danger.

Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend mistakenly believed that they were safe because they had never been attacked in previous stays in the wild. It was their fatal error. Grizzly Bears, like most animals, act instinctively. In the case of Treadwell, it resulted in a deadly attack and the loss of his life. The Grizzly Bear, the one he believed was “his friend” saw Timothy Treadwell as prey. In this case, the human had no chance.