Do wildlife turn out for wildlife films?

Some days, thinking of things to blog about is like fishing for paddlefish. All you can do is throw a big hook out and drag it back and see what you catch. Once in a while you end up writing about an old tire.

And then, some days, a fish jumps right into your lap. Thank you, Kootenai Valley Record, for this trophy catch!

Lincoln County Coordinator Charlie Clough and our Lincoln County, Montana, Friends have been hard at work putting together a free film festival to be shown in Libby on next Friday, February 26, at the Little Theatre. The films are from the “Sundance” of wildlife films, the International Wildlife Film Festival (www.wildlifefilms.org), which, since 1977, has pursued this mission: “To promote awareness, knowledge and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people and nature through excellence in film, television and other media.” And, if you can believe the coverage on the front page of the February 29 Record, (and have a good imagination) even the local wild ungulates are lining up early to go to the show.

These mule deer are, after all, southbound on Libby’s main drag, Mineral Avenue, and in the general direction of 724 Louisiana Avenue, where the Little Theatre of Libby is located. Maybe they have heard it’s going to be standing room only and are lining up early.

OK. Probably not, but it’s fun to think about and fun is a good thing, if you ask me. The folks who will be at the Little Theatre on the evening of the 26th will have fun while viewing three films that Charlie agonized over while picking from IWFF’s big selection of fantastic footage. He has settled on Wolverine, Devil of the North?, A Mountain Goat’s Story (very appropriate for a film sponsored by FSPW — just ask Mr. Scotchman), and Christmas in Yellowstone.

Sorry, mulies; no films about deer. Humans, though, will find a lot to enjoy in this free presentation from Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. Thanks for Charlie Clough and our Lincoln County Friends, and to the Kootenai Valley Record for a great “visual” to go with our story.

— Sandy Compton