Charlie Vandergaw (born ca. 1938) is an American and retired teacher from Anchorage, Alaska. He is known for having spent over 30 years of his life living amongst bears in the state of Alaska. Vandergaw was the subject of a 2009 Animal Planet documentary titled Stranger Among Bears.
Charlie Vandergaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1938 Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Occupation | Animal behaviorist |
| Years active | 1980s-present |
Biography
editCharlie Vandergaw was born circa 1938 and originally worked as a science teacher. By 1988, after retiring from this profession, Vandergaw moved to Anchorage, Alaska.[1] He was the subject of a 2009 television documentary series about Vandergaw titled Stranger Among Bears aired on Animal Planet.[2]
Although against the law of the State of Alaska,[3] the repeated and regular feeding of grizzlies and black bears over many years enabled Vandergaw to habituate these animals to him, thus allowing him to studying their patterns of behavior. In 2010, Vandergaw pleaded guilty to violation of the law, and was given a 180-days suspended jail sentence, plus a $20,000 fine.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ "Living With Bears, Playing by His Own Rules". ABC News. July 8, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Stranger Among Bears". Animal Planet. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Living in Harmony with Bears - Bears and Food, Alaska Department of Fish and Game".
- ^ "Fine, but no jail, for 'bear man'". ADN.com. April 9, 2010.
- ^ "Alaska cracks down on man who feeds wild bears". San Diego Union Tribune. May 23, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2024.