Gray whales are no longer listed as an endangered species, but it is still illegal to hunt them. An exception is made for certain Native American tribes, for whom whale hunts long formed an important cultural tradition. The Makah, of Washington State, decided to revive their own dormant hunting ritual, aided not just by canoes and harpoons but by modern motorboats and armor-piercing assault rifles. The Makah managed to take a whale, despite the presence of protesters who followed them in their own boats, attempting to prevent them from doing so. Also present was a scattering of care-free vacationers on water skis. Authorities escorted some protesters away because their activities were bothering the whales, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

And in Colorado, where prairie dogs are officially classified as a "pest" and thus legal to shoot on sight, state officials resisted efforts to allow people to sell them as pets—especially to the Japanese, who are willing to spend $200 per varmint. Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas all allow such commerce, but not Colorado. A spokesman for the state's Division of Wildlife explained, "You cannot give away or sell any species of wildlife. They belong to the public."

†