Charlie Vandergaw has been living on and off in Alaska for over 20 years.
Every spring he heads up to Bear Haven in Alaska, a picturesque wooden lodge, hand built by Charlie so he could be closer to nature and closer to the bears.
The cabin is rustic and basic but certainly equips Charlie with just what he needs to beable to study and further his relationship with the wild bears of bear haven.
Charlie appears to be a very intelligent and gentle man focused on bridging the gap and the differences between man and bear. Unlike Charlies other friends who study and live with bears, Charlie's attitude is a little different. Charlie understands the bears so has built the cabin so the bears live with him and not the other way round.
Using this method, the bears approach him and at their pace therefore saving confrontation and the risk of attack. The bears at Bear Haven even get a little to confident and invite themselves inside his house out of curiosity at times and often to be greeted by Charlie with offerings of food.
Charlie is a man to be envied. Being able to walk talk and live the bears is no mean feat. At times charlie can be snoozing with them out side, walking and talking with them as friends.
We wish Charlie all the best of luck this summer with Cookie (a female Grizzly) and the rest of the bears at bear Haven Alaska