BBC presenter Gordon Buchanan volunteered for a biological experiment. He spends a year in the world near and interacting with a North American brown bears family, so as to study their socia... Read allBBC presenter Gordon Buchanan volunteered for a biological experiment. He spends a year in the world near and interacting with a North American brown bears family, so as to study their social life as closely as possible.BBC presenter Gordon Buchanan volunteered for a biological experiment. He spends a year in the world near and interacting with a North American brown bears family, so as to study their social life as closely as possible.
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My son is obsessed with bears and we've spent many hours in the smoky mountains "hunting" them down. (Not with guns, but with binoculars.) This documentary was just magical for us and showed us a side of bears we've never seen. My son was devastated to learn there were just three episodes. Don't miss. We're now watching it for a second time.
I don't normally write reviews on here, but at the time of writing the only other review is by a narrow minded individual who doesn't seem to have a very good grasp of what the show actually portrays, so I felt compelled to right their wrong. (It may be interesting to note that in their 18months on this site this remains the only activity of any sort they have posted. And from a similar time that politics and hunters were causing trouble for the very group of bears at the heart of the programme...) "The Bear Family & Me" is another production by internationally respected BBC Natural History Unit, filmed and narrated by Gordon Buchanan and forms part of his growing group of "... Family & Me" programmes. As with other series in the group Gordon's filming is enabled by the efforts he makes to be accepted as neither a predator or prey in the animal's environment, allowing his to gain remarkable footage and view natural animal behaviour incredibly close up.
His guide is local bear researcher Lynn Rogers, who tracks and monitors bears in the forest with a large group of animals fitted with radio collars. His methods are seen as controversial by some, but is backed up with scientific data that rebuts many of the claims made by some. By exchanging handfuls of nut and grapes with the bears, he gains the bears trust and they allow him to follow them through the forest and observe their behaviour at close hand.
This also enables him to place cameras amongst the bears, and replace the radio collars on the animals without the need for stressful and hazardous trapping or darting, and permits the bears to show truly natural behaviour that would not be possible any other way. It should not be assumed that these animals are then humanised or not "wild" anymore; the relationship must be built up with each individual bear family over time and amongst people the bears are already comfortable with, they are still very happy to lash out or bite when any of these people get too close, and as shown in the film the bears will still run away from any unknown humans rather than go looking begging food. In fact, the area has the lowest rate of problems bears in all the locations that Black Bears are regularly found.
This unique relationship with animals allows for a thrilling telling of a year in the life of a first-time family and the challenges they face, and when he set out to film them I'm sure Gordon could not have imagined the eventful year that this particular family would have. Throughout the film he attempts to show that the myth that bears are simply violent and dangerous killers is not correct. Instead he shows the natural side of them in their own environment, away from the only interaction most humans would have with them; mainly situations where the bear is just as frightened as the person stumbling across them in the forest.
There are constant reminders though of the respect that need to be shown to bears, even by those who it has grown to trust. On the few occasions Gordon does become lost looking down the lens, or oversteps the boundaries of the trust that has been built up, the bears are quick to remind him that he his only there with their agreement. This reinforces to him and the viewer that while he is accepted by them as part of the environment, they are still wild animals who are fighting for survival every day.
The film also looks at the hazards the bears face from humans, and the risks the researchers (and Gordon) are forced to take to try and protect the future of their ground breaking research from hunters. He also presents the opportunity for a hunter to come face to face with the animal he usually only sees at a distance through a gun-sight, when stuffed on the wall of his cabin or on the BBQ.
I don't want to waste anymore of my time on the negative reviewer on here that has taken an extreme view of the programme, and while they are entitled to have their opinion I wished to express mine and present a different view of what I believe to be an insightful and beautifully shot and produced show. So I'll just finish with this; rather than take the views of 1 person for it (Me) and 1 person against it (the other guy), why not take the suggestion of the many people who have rated it well deserved ~8.4 and see it for yourself to make up your own mind. I think you'll be glad you did!
His guide is local bear researcher Lynn Rogers, who tracks and monitors bears in the forest with a large group of animals fitted with radio collars. His methods are seen as controversial by some, but is backed up with scientific data that rebuts many of the claims made by some. By exchanging handfuls of nut and grapes with the bears, he gains the bears trust and they allow him to follow them through the forest and observe their behaviour at close hand.
This also enables him to place cameras amongst the bears, and replace the radio collars on the animals without the need for stressful and hazardous trapping or darting, and permits the bears to show truly natural behaviour that would not be possible any other way. It should not be assumed that these animals are then humanised or not "wild" anymore; the relationship must be built up with each individual bear family over time and amongst people the bears are already comfortable with, they are still very happy to lash out or bite when any of these people get too close, and as shown in the film the bears will still run away from any unknown humans rather than go looking begging food. In fact, the area has the lowest rate of problems bears in all the locations that Black Bears are regularly found.
This unique relationship with animals allows for a thrilling telling of a year in the life of a first-time family and the challenges they face, and when he set out to film them I'm sure Gordon could not have imagined the eventful year that this particular family would have. Throughout the film he attempts to show that the myth that bears are simply violent and dangerous killers is not correct. Instead he shows the natural side of them in their own environment, away from the only interaction most humans would have with them; mainly situations where the bear is just as frightened as the person stumbling across them in the forest.
There are constant reminders though of the respect that need to be shown to bears, even by those who it has grown to trust. On the few occasions Gordon does become lost looking down the lens, or oversteps the boundaries of the trust that has been built up, the bears are quick to remind him that he his only there with their agreement. This reinforces to him and the viewer that while he is accepted by them as part of the environment, they are still wild animals who are fighting for survival every day.
The film also looks at the hazards the bears face from humans, and the risks the researchers (and Gordon) are forced to take to try and protect the future of their ground breaking research from hunters. He also presents the opportunity for a hunter to come face to face with the animal he usually only sees at a distance through a gun-sight, when stuffed on the wall of his cabin or on the BBQ.
I don't want to waste anymore of my time on the negative reviewer on here that has taken an extreme view of the programme, and while they are entitled to have their opinion I wished to express mine and present a different view of what I believe to be an insightful and beautifully shot and produced show. So I'll just finish with this; rather than take the views of 1 person for it (Me) and 1 person against it (the other guy), why not take the suggestion of the many people who have rated it well deserved ~8.4 and see it for yourself to make up your own mind. I think you'll be glad you did!
I know many people are interested in wildlife, and nature as a whole. Quite a few of these folks have very worthy intentions in protecting The Great Outdoors, but the program "The Bear Family & Me" produced by the BBC does not serve that end. It was recently broadcast on many PBS stations across the United States. You will be best served if you miss this show.
Admittedly, I have an unabashed respect and fascination with bear species of all kinds. Sure, I like lots of different animals, but I was interested in seeing what this particular show was about, having personally seen quite a few bears out in their natural surroundings over the years. I am aware that the bear researcher Lynn Rogers {who is an associate/contact in this three part film presentation} is a very controversial fellow, but this show with its special host,Gordon Buchanan, a cinematographer from Scotland, takes controversy to a whole new level. While the guy initially expresses some very, very minor hesitation toward being intrusive to the subject of his film, he charges right ahead, full bore, and makes a blathering fool of himself. This guy is the Timothy Treadwell of black bears! I might have hoped that P.B.S. stations would have come out with some sort of retraction/clarification regarding the irresponsible actions portrayed in this three (3) hour program, but I rather doubt that that is to be. Will some members of the public now find it in their benefit/danger to pursue the actions presented by this fellow in this bizarre and problematic program? Does Gordon hesitate to feed the bears? No! Does he withdraw from invading the personal space of the bears? No!! Does he allow the bears to get very close to him and then touch them? Yes!!! Does he ever mention in his film that black bears have killed more people than grizzly bears {sure there are more black bears around today than grizzlies, but still there is a significant danger in habituating any animal}? No! Gordon and Lynn apparently have no problem with habituating these bears. Feeding wild animals is an extremely unhealthy and unwise thing to do to any wild animal, of any sort. Gordon has the same pathetically naive, simplistically juvenile, attitude that got Timothy Treadwell (and his girlfriend) killed and eaten! How sweet that Gordon brings his family to Minnesota to meet the bears in one of the segments of the program... I'm rather surprised he doesn't "paint" some peanut butter on one of the kid's faces to get that precious film footage of a bear coming in to lick off the goo. Is that actually just an urban legend of a situation that once took place at Yellowstone? Aaahhhhh, as I write this it's just one of the first days of summer, time will tell what irresponsible behaviors the ignorant might conduct against wild animals in their habitat! I'm NOT suggesting that bears (of any kind) are "monsters", but they most assuredly deserve our respect and a very healthy distance for their own well-being and ursine satisfaction in the environment. Yes, protect their habitat, but don't do really, really, really stupid things to endanger their own sovereignty, threaten any sort of retribution against them, and also, in the process, bring harm to humans too.
This is a very irresponsible and regrettable film program and people should be warned about its potentially harmful aspects. It's magnificent to spend time outdoors getting to know the true essence of the natural world, but it is more than a silly playground and holds some very serious consequences for those possessed with erroneous perspectives about what exists out there. More people need to become familiar with the story of Timothy Treadwell as "Grizzly Man" to know what possibly evolves out of naivety. I would hate to see the public be further exposed to dangerous attitudes concerning animals in their environment. We are not dealing with Yogi Bear and precious creatures out on an incredible journey. If we in the modern age attest to being truly concerned about the essence of the outdoors, there is a responsibility toward forwarding programs that do well for the world. The program "The Bear Family & Me", filmed by Gordon Buchanan and produced by the BBC fails completely in taking that mission seriously.
Admittedly, I have an unabashed respect and fascination with bear species of all kinds. Sure, I like lots of different animals, but I was interested in seeing what this particular show was about, having personally seen quite a few bears out in their natural surroundings over the years. I am aware that the bear researcher Lynn Rogers {who is an associate/contact in this three part film presentation} is a very controversial fellow, but this show with its special host,Gordon Buchanan, a cinematographer from Scotland, takes controversy to a whole new level. While the guy initially expresses some very, very minor hesitation toward being intrusive to the subject of his film, he charges right ahead, full bore, and makes a blathering fool of himself. This guy is the Timothy Treadwell of black bears! I might have hoped that P.B.S. stations would have come out with some sort of retraction/clarification regarding the irresponsible actions portrayed in this three (3) hour program, but I rather doubt that that is to be. Will some members of the public now find it in their benefit/danger to pursue the actions presented by this fellow in this bizarre and problematic program? Does Gordon hesitate to feed the bears? No! Does he withdraw from invading the personal space of the bears? No!! Does he allow the bears to get very close to him and then touch them? Yes!!! Does he ever mention in his film that black bears have killed more people than grizzly bears {sure there are more black bears around today than grizzlies, but still there is a significant danger in habituating any animal}? No! Gordon and Lynn apparently have no problem with habituating these bears. Feeding wild animals is an extremely unhealthy and unwise thing to do to any wild animal, of any sort. Gordon has the same pathetically naive, simplistically juvenile, attitude that got Timothy Treadwell (and his girlfriend) killed and eaten! How sweet that Gordon brings his family to Minnesota to meet the bears in one of the segments of the program... I'm rather surprised he doesn't "paint" some peanut butter on one of the kid's faces to get that precious film footage of a bear coming in to lick off the goo. Is that actually just an urban legend of a situation that once took place at Yellowstone? Aaahhhhh, as I write this it's just one of the first days of summer, time will tell what irresponsible behaviors the ignorant might conduct against wild animals in their habitat! I'm NOT suggesting that bears (of any kind) are "monsters", but they most assuredly deserve our respect and a very healthy distance for their own well-being and ursine satisfaction in the environment. Yes, protect their habitat, but don't do really, really, really stupid things to endanger their own sovereignty, threaten any sort of retribution against them, and also, in the process, bring harm to humans too.
This is a very irresponsible and regrettable film program and people should be warned about its potentially harmful aspects. It's magnificent to spend time outdoors getting to know the true essence of the natural world, but it is more than a silly playground and holds some very serious consequences for those possessed with erroneous perspectives about what exists out there. More people need to become familiar with the story of Timothy Treadwell as "Grizzly Man" to know what possibly evolves out of naivety. I would hate to see the public be further exposed to dangerous attitudes concerning animals in their environment. We are not dealing with Yogi Bear and precious creatures out on an incredible journey. If we in the modern age attest to being truly concerned about the essence of the outdoors, there is a responsibility toward forwarding programs that do well for the world. The program "The Bear Family & Me", filmed by Gordon Buchanan and produced by the BBC fails completely in taking that mission seriously.
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