It was only four months ago that a grizzly bear lumbered the streets of Squamish's downtown so it seems appropriate that grizzly researcher Charlie Russell is coming to town to present a documentary film about his experiences with the bears.Russell lived among the animals between 1994 and 2006, and over an 18-month period, television producers Jeff and Sue Turner of the BBC documented Russell's close encounters.
Squamish Bear Network representative Meg Toom said the organization is excited to have Russell coming to the Eagle Eye to show his latest documentary Living with Grizzlies of Kamchatka.
The 50-minute documentary chronicles one season out of the 11 years that Russell spent in Russia rescuing orphan grizzly cubs and rehabilitating them.
The bruins Russell lived among were all orphaned cubs that he rescued from zoos. Once liberated, Russell's bears were taken to live in the south Kamchatka area of Russia.
Russell lived in a cabin in the area with his partner artist and photographer Maureen Enns and protected the orphaned grizzlies until they were able to live independently in the wild.
"If a bear likes and trusts you, he will not hurt you," said Russell. "I have set out in Kamchatka, to personally explore the extreme limits of this theory. If I can answer the trust questions, I feel I will be able to come up with some ideas as to where we are developing mistrust with our wild bears in North America."
According to Russell, his experiences included playing tug-of-war with a grizzly. He also put his hand into the mouths of grizzlies and felt their tongues and palettes.
"I have pulled on the hair playfully of our cubs until they tell me to let go with the slightest of pressure on my wrists with their claws," he said. "One mistake would undo my whole life's work!"
Two of Russell's three books are about the bears he studied in Kamchatka. The third, Spirit Bear, it is about a Kermode bear on Princess Royal Island.
After the movie, there will be the opportunity for a question period and book signing with Russell and local bear experts.
The Eagle Eye Theatre doors open for the event on Thursday (Sept. 13) at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door.
"Get informed and stay involved," said Toom. "Call 604-815-5066 for information on how you can be Bear Aware."
