Douglas Smith, PhD
Leader of Yellowstone National Park's Gray Wolf Restoration Project
Wild Things
WILD THINGS: A film about the war on native carnivores
Many ranchers are rejecting the old practice of killing large carnivores to protect livestock. Instead, they are increasingly using new technology and old methods of animal husbandry to coexist with carnivores.
Native carnivores bring balance to the landscape and keep ecosystems healthy. But they can also be seen as a threat to livestock, and for decades government trappers have killed them in large numbers. The U.S.D.A.'s Wildlife Services program kills tens of thousands of native carnivores annually, often at the demand of the ranching industry. It is a battle against nature that is costly, brutal, and not very effective. Does the battle really need to be fought? Wild Things introduces audiences to progressive ranchers learning to coexist with these animals and features scientists, conservationists and even former Wildlife Services trappers, who believe it is time for a major change in the way we treat our magnificent native carnivores.
WILD THINGS: Cast
Photos by Lisa Whiteman
Click thumbnails to view full size.
Andrew Anderson
A Montana cattle rancher using non-lethal methods to control predation
Becky Weed
A Montana sheep rancher using non-lethal methods to control predation
Bill Jensen
A sheep rancher in California using non-lethal methods to control predation
Carter Niemeyer
A former Wildlife Services agent and trapper, now working with 40 ranches in Alberta on non-lethal predator control
Sherrine and Joe Engelhart
Alberta cattle ranchers participating in a large-scale project to control predators non-lethally
Related Links
Stop Predator Poisons from Killing Wildlife and Harming Ecosystems
The Ecological Importance of Predators
Reform Wildlife Services' Predator Control
Fuzzy Math: Wildlife Services Should Improve Its Economic Analysis of Predator Control
From Our Blogs
- Animal Abuse, Torture, and Dead Pets: Fox News Shines Spotlight on Wildlife Services
- posted by Melissa Waage, 3/14/13
- Idaho Numbers Remind Us that Traps Don't Discriminate
- posted by Zack Strong, 2/26/13
- Wildlife Services' Environmental Assessment of Its Montana Operations Is Inadequate
- posted by Zack Strong, 1/22/13
- Small Business Saturday Reminds Us of Another Reason to Reform Wildlife Services
- posted by Elly Pepper, 11/23/12
- Wildlife Services' Mammal Management Plan for Virginia
- posted by Elly Pepper, 9/24/12
Take Action Now!
It's time to stop the Wildlife Services agency from poisoning thousands of animals every year at the behest of agribusiness. Ask Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to direct Wildlife Services to discontinue the use of Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide for predator control. These two deadly poisons have no place on our public lands.
Stop the Government Poisoning of Wildlife!
WILD THINGS Screenings and Updates
Please check back soon to find out where you can see WILD THINGS.
Saturday, May 18th at 4:30pm
Wild & Scenic Film Festival on tour, in Julian, CA
Sunday, May 19th at 1:45pm
Wild & Scenic Film Festival on tour, in Julian, CA
Sunday, June 9th at 5pm
White Mountain Audubon Nature Film Festival in Lakeside, AZ
Tuesday, June 25 -- Sacramento reception, Screening & Panel Discussion
Time: 6 pm (free reception); 7 pm (public screening & panel)
Sponsors: Natural Resources Defense Council, Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Society of the US, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Project Coyote
Location: Crest Theater, 1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
RSVP here
Wednesday, June 26 -- San Francisco Screening & Panel Discussion
Time: 7pm
Sponsors: Natural Resources Defense Council, Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Society of the US, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Project Coyote
Location: San Francisco SPCA, 243 Alabama Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
RSVP here
Thursday, June 27 -- Berkeley Screening & Panel Discussion
Time: 6 pm (screening), 7 pm (panel discussion)
Sponsors: Natural Resources Defense Council, Animal Welfare Institute, Humane Society of the US, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Project Coyote
Location: David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
RSVP here
