Pathetic National Geographic Explorer Program on wolf reintroduction

Pathetic National Geographic Explorer Program "Living With Wolves."

(10-11-98) updated 11-2

A lot of people were anticipating National Geographic Explorer's feature on the Wolf Reintroduction -- "Living With Wolves." Don't waste your time. It was the worst special feature on TV I have seen about the wolves.

The program was either poorly researched, poorly edited, or both. It made wolf reintroduction the classic, and wrong, "wolves versus people and the "old west." They interviewed Steve Gordon on the Diamond G (I guess he grants access to some people) and swallowed everything he said about the wolves killing his cattle and his belief that they aren't natural wolves (they are wolves from Yellowstone where, supposedly, wolves have no fear of people). They gave no history of the Washakie Pack. They didn't mention that Wildlife Services doubts many of the ranch claims that the cattle were killed by wolves. They didn't mention the lack of public access for independent verification, or the fact that grizzlies kill his cattle too; and, according to the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report, folks with pistols do too. There was no mention of Defenders of Wildlife's compensation program, or of the low grazing fees paid by public lands ranchers in part because there are expected to be predators on public lands.

Regarding the first shooting of the Mexican Wolf in Arizona, they interviewed Richard Humphrey and his spouse, who have now seemingly made the shooting not just an attack on their dog, but on Mrs. Humphery.

They interviewed Mike Phillips plenty, but they only recorded generic remarks. They talked about how Judge Downes' might have the wolves removed, but gave no indication why.

They did indicate that wolves might be restoring the natural balance in Yellowstone, but tried to show the Park was not in balance by photographing all the elk on the lawn at Mammoth Hot Springs, a feature that wolves will not remove. The elk are on the lawn because the grass is green there until snow flies.

How did this poor piece make it onto the air? I'm not sure. Perhaps it is the need to simplify and to make every story into a melodrama. In a melodrama there is two-sided conflict, rising tension, battle, and then resolution or promise of resolution. The trouble is, most events don't fit this scheme. Melodramatic reporting of news and other information is a major problem with televison. A number of books and articles have dealt with the problem.

Fortunately on the internet we are not limited in space, nor do we have to assume our audience is ill-educated on the subject. Giving a balanced view -- balancing off the traditional media -- is one of the main reasons this web page has been continued.

Here is a great letter to National Geographic Explorer TV from a resident who lives near the Dunoir. Added on 11-2-98

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Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209