Some think of prairie dogs as oversized, furry rats –
agricultural pests that compete with cows for forage. Others see
them as essential parts of prairie ecosystems. Varmints, a
soon-to-be-released documentary from High Plains Films, explores
the heated controversy that has mobilized the Sierra Club in
defense of the critters, and has spawned the Varmint Militia, a
group of hunters devoted to eliminating the animals. The premiere
will be held Oct. 28 at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colo. This
opening coincides with the end of the comment period on a petition
to list the black-tailed prairie dog as an endangered species.
Send comments to Jamie Clark, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240. For more
information on Varmints, call Jennifer Ferenstein at High Plains
Films, 406/543-0079.
* Stanley
Yung
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Varmints.
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