Episode 04: The Rules Change

The rules of survival aren’t written for bears — they’re written for us. And sometimes, the same behavior that’s tolerated inside the park becomes a death sentence outside it.

The Rules Change is the fourth chapter of The Choice — a wildlife documentary series revealing the truth behind Yellowstone’s grizzlies. In this episode, we shift the lens: from managing bears to managing people. Through powerful stories of roadside encounters, boundary crossings, and human reactions, we reveal how much of what we call “bear management” is really about us.

From carcass sites to highways, the invisible boundaries of protection shape every grizzly’s fate. Two adolescent brothers, once tolerated inside Yellowstone, find themselves labeled as “trouble” just beyond the boundary. Their story forces us to ask: Who is really breaking the rules?

🎥 What You’ll See

• A gripping carcass sequence with two adolescent bears sharing food — peacefully, against stereotype

• Rangers and biologists navigating crowded roadside encounters, showing how people are the real management challenge

• Contrasts between inside-the-park protection and outside-the-park punishment

• B-roll of drivers, tourists, and rangers that highlights the paradox of human–bear coexistence

• A rare look at the adolescent brothers’ journey as they adapt to risks outside the boundary

📖 Episode Themes

• The double standard of “problem bears” vs. “problem people”

• How roadside visibility can protect bears inside the park but condemn them outside

• Shifting perspective: from bear behavior to human accountability

• The fragility of coexistence when rules change with invisible lines

💬 Featured Quote

“The bears didn’t change — the rules did. And with one step across a line, protection turned into punishment.”

🧭 Take Action

This episode reminds us that “problem bears” are often a reflection of problem policies.
Help us rewrite the rules: support coexistence strategies that hold people accountable and give bears a fair chance to live wild.

👉 Learn how you can help → The Wildline