Educational Media Reviews Online

God Squad is the nickname of the Endangered Species Interagency Committee that is comprised of cabinet-level political figures. This committee has the authority to allow exceptions to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and can, in effect, “play God” with the fate of a species. This film describes the case of the endangered Northern Spotted Owl in the early 1990s when the Bureau of Land Management petitioned to allow 44 timber sales within areas of Spotted Owl habitat. In just 57 minutes this film weaves together the story of the political, biological and economic complexities of the Northern Spotted Owl issue. The God Squad shows that timber sale was not the prime motivation but that the BLM was in fact challenging the Endangered Species Act and the ability to log old-growth forests.

The musical score was somewhat distracting and the film contained some overly long scenes of the Washington, D.C. mall and clear-cut forests, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the film. The well-edited and candid interviews with committee members, agencies staff and citizens makes for an excellent documentary. This film is unique and belongs in every public and college level library, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest. Viewers will gain an understanding of this complex issue and this film is highly recommended.