Counting Sheep

The most clear, entertaining, and concise presentation on a predator/prey population problem you could hope for. The ecology of endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, and Mountain Lions. How often do you get to see a "cougar tracker" in action?

 

Varmints

This is a great movie. American Hunting Culture. Animal rights issues. Landowner's/Rancher's issues. Guns and violence. The relationship between humans and wilderness. If you have any interest in this stuff, then see this movie. Is human economic progress more important than EVERYTHING else?

 

Killing Coyote

Similar to Varmints, but focused on the trickster, instead of prairie dogs. Both feature gruesome footage of camo clad Midwesterners with beers and guns in hand, reveling in the mangled bodies of smaller creatures.

 

This is Nowhere

Retired Middle Americans living in Wal-Mart parking lots in their RVs. How can you go wrong? I've seen one reviewer who gave it one star say, "it was a bunch of old people telling boring, pointless stories.”  Four stars.

 

Ghost Bird

Great movie.  Supposed sightings of the thought to be extinct ivory billed woodpecker in Arkansas.  Ornithologists, weekend bird nerds, small town hillbillies.  Good times.

 

180’ South

Jeff Johnson retraces the steps of Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia company) and Doug Tompkins (founder of The North Face company) in their legendary 1968 journey to climb the corcovado volcano.  Fun adventure.  

 

National Geographic: American Serengeti

The American Prairie Reserve’s attempt to conserve one of the last large grasslands on the planet.

 

National Geographic: Climbing Redwood Giants

Previously undiscovered ecosystems exist at the top of tall trees in North California.

 

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga

Director Werner Herzog can do no wrong.  Life in Siberia.  Snow, fur trapping, hunting.  It’s much different than ours.  

 

Far Out: Agafia’s Taiga Life

“This book is about 400 years old [Christian Hymns]… Then came the science.  The Godless science.  Horrible science.  Soul crushing science.”  Agafia Lykov

“There are no bad people on the Taiga.  Most bad people are where a lot of other people are.  They can steal there.  But out here, they would not survive.  Taiga cleanses you. This place makes you reflect on your actions.  It cleanses your soul.”  Sergei Khlebnikov, Khakassky State Nature Reserve

 

Great Plains: Lingering Wild

Photographer Michael Forsberg on American Plains ecology.  The burrowing owl at the beginning will convince you to keep watching.  

 

Meru

Elite climbers Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk attempt the first ascent of a crazy peak in the North Indian Himalayas.  Huddled in a tent that hangs on a vertical cliff during a 3 day snow storm??  You will be surprised at how different some people’s lives are from yours.