We’re Going On A Bear Hike
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Published 2016-12-15
FORMER biologist Joel Rosenthal has achieved a lifelong dream - by regularly hiking with his pet bears through the wilderness. At Point of View Farm in West Virginia, 74-year-old Joel lives with five black bears and can go months on end without seeing another human being. Joel has been rescuing wild bears for the past seven years, raising them inside his house and protecting them in hunting season. And now, he has developed such a close relationship with the animals, he can regularly take them for hikes in the forest, hand-feed them and sleep in their enclosures.
Videographer / director: Ruaridh Connellan
Producer: Danny Baggott, Ruby Coote
Editor: Ian Phillips
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All Comments (21)
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As I get older, the whole living completely by yourself in the woods makes more and more sense.
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That guy lives in my area and you can actually volunteer and help him take care of the animals he rescues
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"I prefer any animal to humans." You're not alone.
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God bless this man!!! He has a HEART OF GOLD for taking such good care of those bears!!!💓💓💓
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"I prefer any animal to humans" ... Me too
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Once you socialize them to people you have to keep them. They will walk right up to hunters looking for food or friendship.
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"I live all alone. I live miles away from the nearest human being. I sometimes go months without ever seeing another human being." Goals.
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We are in need of billions of people like him
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Joel is living an incredible life. So few of us get to do it. I am not jealous of his he lives but I am in awe of how happy he is and how full of love his life is. We worry about him because if he gets sick or hurt, badly, he is so far from medical help. There is always a price to pay for anything great. It's worth the risk if the enjoyment is great enough. That's life. Joel has already lived a long fruitful life. The rest is icing on his life cake. Good for you Joel. I am 70 years old and would drop everything to go hang out with you. Of course you don't want me there but watching you makes me feel good imagining how it would be to live that life. I wonder if you ever took in an adult bear and made a close relationship like with the cubs you raised? Have fun.
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Former hunter here. I don't have it in me anymore to take a life for sport and meat. Videos like this just solidify that in my mind. I used to live in an area where I depended on the land to provide me with what I needed but I no longer do and my list of animals I would shoot to survive has gotten down to just fish now I guess.
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"I prefer any animals to humans..." I can relate :)
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The bears look so fun to be around and go walking with.
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they're just giant fucking dogs i love this
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Wow, bears are really intelligent, they come running when he called their names 😍 so cute
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You're my hero Mr. Rosenthal! I appreciate the love and compassion that you show and bestow on these beautiful bears. Thank you!
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So glad for you and the precious bears-knowing human compassion and love.
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How can you not love that wonderful man. God forever bless him, such a special relationship with his bears.
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It continues to amaze me how docile these animals will become when they are well fed and well treated. These Bears think that this man is their Daddy and treat him with love.They have bonded with him and would always recognize him where ever they went, even if they hadn't seem him for years. They are a Family !
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Joel, thank you so much for being such a caring human being.
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I love what you are doing! I hate to see any animal shot....at the moment I'm pretty sure not only myself but our entire neighbourhood are helping a lone (perhaps 2 year old) have enough to eat and hope that he make it to winter with no problems. I love this little guy!
