His two children now grown, Gilbert sometimes wishes he'd had more time with them or had been able to take them on some of his adventures. His family remained supportive of his work even after the attack. Losing more than a quarter of the blood in his body, his left eye, and much of the flesh on the left side of his face didn't change Gilbert's perspective on the treatment of wildlife. He advocates bears and shifts the blame from them to the people who interact with them. He points out that dogs kill more people than bears.
People talk of wildlife management, but it's really people management.
For instance, backpackers are significantly less likely to encounter bears near their campsites if food is stored where bears can't contact it. According to a study Gilbert did with Bruce Hastings, when bears start eating people's food they become much less afraid of people, and more difficult to frighten away. Always active, Gilbert believes his love for fitness may have been what saved his life in 1977. Doctors said his heart and lungs were strong enough to be ten years younger, and he had been swimming three times a week for a mile each time. In high school he played football and swam.