Born Timothy Dexter. Classic narcissist. Reformed alcoholic and drug addict, might not have entirely straightened out. Claimed, without verification, to have been the theoretical second choice for the role of Woody Harrelson's character, "Woody" Boyd, in Cheers. Became a wacky pseudo-environmentalist wingnutscrewballsup who travelled to Alaska from round about 1990 to his death in 2003 to try to get ... close to ... bears. Documented his exploits on videocam, some of said footage making the guts of Werner Hertzog's biopic "Grizzly Man". Ended up doing a Michael Jackson impression over steaming bear shit. Came to believe he was the bears' last good hope, and started ranting on-camera against the wildlife service, humanity in general, et cetera.

In the autumn of 2003 he tried heading back south to be with his family or other friends; at the airport he got into a towering rage with somebody and failed to board the plane, instead returning to the Alaskan lake shore where he had spent the summer. Unfortunately and despite his assumed name, in so doing he didn't tread very well at all. In the meantime his favourite bear clan had all gone into hibernation and another group had moved in to time-share the place, where a few weeks later Treadwell was reminded of the six basic relationships an animal species may have with other animals in the wild: you ignore it, it picks off your parasites, you pick off its parasites, you fuck it, you eat it, it eats you. This list included the last option, and unfortunately he had taken his latest girlfriend along for the ride as well. After the bears had dined on long pig to their hearts' content the park rangers arrived to collect the leftovers and shoot the bears.

Living proof (better still, dead proof) that you shouldn't believe everything you see on Walt Disney movies.
I wanted to be an eco-warrior when I was younger, but then I heard about Timothy Treadwell and wizened up.
by Fearman April 1, 2008
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"PULLING A TREADWELL" ,

refers to an extremely naive, ignorant, and overly trusting person who recklessly approaches "danger close" to an alpha predator animal; such as a bear, (black, Grizzly, Polar), moose, bison, crocodile, Cape buffalo, lion, tiger, elephant, rhino, or hippopotamus... Just to name a few.

Solely, for the purpose of "hand feeding, touching, taking a "selfie" with a killer, petting, or even cuddling such an animal, with the likelihood of being trampled, mauled, crushed, impaled, partially or wholly eaten, and of course, invariably, the victim of an utterly horrible death.

(Pulling a Treadwell" refers to Timothy Treadwell), the disillusioned & troubled amateur bear enthusiast, who was eaten ALIVE (to death) over several minutes, (all on audio recording) taking his hapless girlfriend along with him, on Oct. 5th, 2003, in Katmai Nat'l Park in Alaska.

The award winning doc "Grizzly Man" by Werner Herzog chronicled the harrowing event with bizarre and phenomenal up close preceding footage. The bear who ate both him and his unwitting companion was previously named by Treadwell as "The Grinch". Treadwell didn't even carry 'bear spray', for fear of harming his beloved "teddy bears".
"HOLY SHIT!!! Look at Donald!!! He's got a bunch of long grass, to feed the baby hippo on the bank of that African River, but he doesn't see the 7,000lb. Mother hippo charging from behind! He's definitely "PULLING A TREADWELL", and is ROYALLY FUCKED!!" "Oh, well, Don WAS a stupid guy...", the witness states, as poor Don is Chomped into a gory two.

Similar words: disembowled dismembered feasted upon ingested Oscar for stupidity fearless, yet detrimentally cognitively challenged OMFG! extreme sharp force trauma extreme blunt force trauma NO DADDY/SON/BROTHER FOR Christmas
by EverestsOccamsRazor February 13, 2016
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A Chris Treadwell is typically a person who likes to microwave cell phones, lick electric fences, and create elaborate stories the he cant keep track of. A Chris Treadwell will usually have one or two estranged kids wondering around somewhere with no knowledge to that person. A Chris Treadwell will also dedicate one or two good days at the gym and see instant results in his body's transformation. With his astounding lack of head hair he makes up with it in body hair.
Hey! Don't touch that hot stove! You're being a real Chris Treadwell right now.
by Jimmy818181 February 14, 2017
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When a man/woman attracts someone who is incredibly interested at first, only to have them lose interest within a few days of talking to them.
Dude 1: "Man, i keep Treadwelling these chicks"

Dude 2: "What do you mean Treadwelling?"

Dude 1: "She was so into me, like, seriously into me, but now she's not talking to me."

Dude 2: "Why? What did you do?"

Dude 1: "I talked to her."
by Treadweller March 24, 2013
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A term used for stopping animals cold-in-their-tracks from charging. Also means using your energy to let an animal know who is boss.
"Wow, you fucking treadwell'd that bear!"

"If you can't Treadwell a deer, you're a fucking pussy."

"I am always ready to Treadwell any homeless man who may cross paths with me."
by Hannazon July 30, 2014
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