wdfifteen, i was thining of making that exact comparison, hell everybody poops right lol.

Actually, you're 100% wrong.

Due to various factors prairie dog populations have been on the rise in many areas--especially areas that produce the beef that you eat. They are considered pests. They are hunted--no license required--like any other varmint.

Have you ever been out on the high prairie? You can easily tell where the prairie dog towns are--75% of the vegetation in the area is simply GONE.

Prairie dogs are also prolific plague carriers. Yes, THAT plague.

So feel bad for the cute widdle pwaiwie dogs if you want. In fact, go out and play with them--just don't complain when you keel over from the Black Death.

Some of you guys really need to get a grip on reality.

I don't search this stuff out but I thought that it was interesting that humans would put so much effort to protect a species like those tortoises. The tortoises are effectively useless to us yet those people are spending money and using specialized skills to protect them from an invasive species.

Is it pleasant? Not really. It is necessary? Absolutely if the species is expected to survive.

Some of the tortoises on the ridge of the opening scene were likely alive in the 1800s and now they are being protected by modern technology like helicopters, radio ID tags, and semi-auto rifles.

The real world isn't always friendly. It's a shame more of us don't live in it.

I don't think it's so much lacking a grip on reality as outright hypocrisy and/or a laughable display willful blindness.

I was a rather strict vegetarian for 20 years. For a variety of reasons I am now an omnivore again. I have come to terms with the fact that in order for me to eat, animals must die.

Anyone who thinks these videos are horrifying should watch a creature being hunted down and eaten by a predator out in the wild. Mother nature is a hell of a lot less "humane" than any of the "kitten drowners" ( :rolleyes: ) in the videos above.

Or maybe you nancies should visit an abattoir. There's a real happy place for a cow/chicken/pig to meet its end. Especially after spending its entire life in a cage.

On this you and I agree. I am astounded at the people who DO think it's pleasant. So pleasant that they sit around and watch it on youtube.

Why, yes! And it should be a jolly occasion that we make films of and sit around in rapt attention, discussing technique as well as make, model, and capacity of the equipment used.

I bet none of you use bug spray either... Death by nerve agent. And if you think nature is less cruel then take a look at an animal that is starving to death due to over population and competition for limited resources.

I am not naive enought ot think the world is all roses and sunshine, but the fact that these actions are necessary does not mean they make wonderful movies. My mistake on the prairie dogs, i have no issue with culling a destructive species, in my experience here in Alberta doing so by shooting is just a redneck time wasting sport. There are much more effective methods, and from that video I am guessing those guys are doing that for fun not for population control.

At the end of the day the point isn't should they be doing it, it is why would anyone choose to watch it for fun? I don't think anyone has an issue with the actions, it is the movie making that is disturbing and if you don't see that perspective, I think you may want to do a little inner reflecting. Why watch it?

I've got no issue with killing prairie dogs or any other pest, the issue is making fancy videos of it and watching it for fun. You gotta have something wrong with you to think that's fun. Actually it's pretty obvious the guy you hear in the first 15 seconds has something wrong with him. What a tool.

Yes, there are more effective methods. Such as poison, which is what ranchers in WY sometimes use. I don't see that as any more humane (but I don't disagree with it).

The 'dogs are going to die one way or the other. It seems to me that developing good shooting skills in the process of pest control is better than drive-by poison dumps.

Tonight, you should turn on the evening news. I guarantee that whatever you see, if you think about it, is significantly more horrifying than anything that could appear in a prairie dog hunting video.

Unless, of course, you think that rape, murder, child abuse, and war are more wholesome "entertainment" than rodents being shot in a spectacular fashion.

Just like cane toads, cats, feral pigs, etc there was an overpopulation of something that threatened the survival of the native wildlife.
Admire the marksmanship, or detest the cruel nature of the entertainment, either way something had to be done.

IMO, instead of paying to keep a helicopter in the air they could have sold guided permits.
Most people eat goats and it's wasted meat.

In the case of the Galapagos I suspect having a bunch of hunters tromping around would cause even more damage--guided or not. The helicopter is a more "surgical" approach--and probably makes the park officials feel better about themselves since they are hiring "professionals".

Poison has it's drawbacks. Scavengers eat the poisoned dogs. A hawk, will eat carrion that is poisoned next thing we have is hawks dying.

They used both.

Before they used the choppers people on the ground were used to herd large numbers into corrals, later lines of hunters with dogs followed up. Once numbers started to dwindle they used choppers.

To guide the choppers they sterilized and radio tagged some females and called them "Judas Goats". The tagged goats would be used to locate others since they would naturally herd together and the choppers would be used to kill all but the Judas goat.

80000 goats were killed off of one island.

Goodbye Galapagos goats : Nature News

That would be one hell of a lot of Birria Tacos!