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Bullfrog Films
P.O. Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
Tel: 610/779-8226
Fax: 610/370-1978
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Varmints
The controversy surrounding the decline of the prairie dog.
91 minutes
DVD version with special features available - see below
(57-minute version available.)
Color
Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 1999
Copyright Date: 1998
ISBN (VHS): 1-56029-784-0
ISBN (DVD): 1-59458-116-9
Directed by Doug Hawes-Davis
Produced by High Plains Films
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"Fascinating story-telling, scientifically and historically accurate."
Sam McNaughton, PhD, Biology Research Lab, Syracuse University
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Pound for pound the prairie dog has generated more controversy in the West than almost any other animal. Some say that the prairie dog competes directly with cattle for forage and is an agricultural pest that must be eradicated. Others argue that the prairie dog is an essential component of the prairie ecosystem and that dramatic declines in population and loss of habitat qualify the prairie dog for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
VARMINTS chronicles the decline of the prairie dog in the American West. It details the intertwined and conflicting perspectives of cowboy mythology, animal rights, property rights, varmint hunting, ecology and politics. The film includes exclusive footage of varmint shooting, spectacular wildlife of the Great Plains, and systematic poisoning efforts by federal, state and local agencies, including historical U.S. Biological Survey footage (c. 1915) collected from the National Archives.
VARMINTS raises important questions about the ethics of hunting for sport and our relentless efforts to control the natural world.
DVD version: The DVD contains both the original 90-minute version, and the short 57-minute version, of the program.
Awards:
Best of Category, Special Jury Prize, International Wildlife Film Festival
Editor's Choice, Science Books & Films
Category Runner-Up, EarthVision Environmental Film & Video Festival
Northwest Film & Video Festival
Reviews:
"A powerful, engaging, and surprisingly humorous exposé of the strained relations between people and wildlife in the American West...sure to echo across the West for years to come." Camas Deep Winter
"Fascinating story-telling, scientifically and historically accurate...Is this film a polemic? Well, it certainly has attitude. But all strongly held ideas have attitude." Sam McNaughton, PhD, Biology Research Lab, Syracuse University
"An incredibly disturbing film, but well worth watching...Highly recommended for all college and university library collections." Pamela M. Rose, Health Sciences Library, SUNY at Buffalo, MC Journal
"VARMINTS is the "Schindler's List" of wildlife documentaries. You simply cannot watch and remain unmoved. It demands intellectual attention." The Coloradoan
"Gives valuable balance to contrasting perceptions and regarding evidence about a major issue in resource management. Both sides score good points." Editor's Choice, Science Books & Films
"Using documented evidence and historical footage, Hawes-Davis deftly dissects those arguments (the ranchers' and sports shooters') until the only thing left standing is the blood lust of the shooters." Ken Muir, Asst. Professor of Sociology, Appalachian State University
"In a deceptively simple, often darkly comic style, Hawes-Davis lets his diverse group of interviewees have their say... [Varmints] effectively captures the anger, ignorance, and passion surrounding the debate." Les Benedict, Montana Magazine
"Makes viewers everywhere ponder who, in the grand scheme of things, the true varmints are." Westword
Related Subjects:
American Studies
Animal Behavior/Communication
Animal Rights
Ecology
Endangered Species
Environmental Ethics
Ethics
Great Plains
Habitat
History
Hunting
Law
Prairie Dogs
Social Change
Social Psychology
Sociology
Western U.S.
Related Links:
www.highplainsfilms.org (The producers' web site)
Related Titles:
Varmints (Short Version): The controversy surrounding the decline of the prairie dog.
El Caballo: The history, ecology, and current plight of the wild horse in North America.
Wind River: The battle over water rights on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
Whose Home on the Range?: The peace process between environmentalists, ranchers, and the U.S. Forest Service in the toughest county in the West.
Motor: The controversy surrounding off-road motor vehicles using public lands.
Grasslands: The ecology of North America's grasslands.
Hibernating Ground Squirrels: Ground squirrel behavior at various stages of hibernation.
No Room to Roam: Controversial buffalo hunt near Yellowstone.
In Defense of Animals: Peter Singer presents the moral philosophy arguments for animal rights.
Ancient Sea Turtles Stranded in a Modern World: The use of TEDs in shrimpers' nets would allow sea turtles to escape.
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