Educational Media Reviews Online

Gray wolves were successfully reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, so successfully that today, new packs and pack territories have been established in Montana outside Park boundaries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (April 2008) notes that populations in the eastern Great Lakes and northern Rocky Mountains have recovered to the point that the gray wolf no longer requires protection under the Endangered Species Act. Since the gray wolf was originally exterminated in the Northern Rockies to protect domesticated cattle and sheep from predation, can wolves and ranchers co-exist? This documentary looks closely at how wolves and ranchers are getting along outside Yellowstone in Montana’s Paradise and Madison Valleys.

The quality of this production is excellent, cinematography, editing, sound, much as we’ve grown to expect from projects sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The director lets those involved, ranchers, naturalists, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks personnel, tell their stories through their actions, their words, even their bumper stickers. Where necessary, Tom Rush provides informative, unobtrusive narration. The Paradise Valley looks like … well, Paradise, and the Madison Valley isn’t far behind. It’s no wonder that McMillionaires are interested in building their McMansions in Paradise. Developers with money for ranch land are very willing to lend a hand. The wildlife footage (deer, elk, bison, bears, coyotes in addition to the wolves) is excellent: no stock footage of Yellowstone herds noticeable. The film includes graphic images of wolf-killed livestock and drugged or dead wolves which could disturb younger viewers.

Opinion from the Paradise Valley is that wolves and livestock don’t mix. Wolves are okay in Yellowstone, but not outside the Park. The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group is aiming for low-impact residential growth which preserves ranch lands and the wolves. Trying to train wolves to keep them from attacking cattle and sheep is an extremely complex cooperative effort by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the ranchers, and developers. Costs are high, and the appeal of selling off ranchlands to developers is also high for ranchers whose patience and endurance are being tested so severely by the wolves. These are tough choices for a rancher to make in order to be able to continue the ranching business and lifestyle they thoroughly enjoy and hope to keep in the family. This film is highly recommended for its balanced treatment of a very controversial subject.

Awards

• Best of Fest, Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival, 2008