Alaska man who fed wild bears pleads guilty

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska authorities say a man featured in a television series about his life among wild bears at his Alaska cabin has pleaded guilty to illegally feeding the bears dog food and cookies.

Assistant state Attorney General Andrew Peterson says 71-year-old Charlie Vandergaw pleaded guilty to eight counts last week. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss another 12 counts in the case.

If terms of the plea agreement are accepted by a judge at Thursday's sentencing, Vandergaw would get 180 days of suspended jail time and a fine of between $20,000 and $72,000.

A documentary broadcast last year on Animal Planet shows Vandergaw scratching the belly of one black bear and feeding a cookie to another at his cabin, about 40 miles north of Anchorage.

Game officials consider feeding bears a danger to humans.

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Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com