Wyoming recently provided a stark example of why predators need increased protections: Cody Roberts' mere $250 fine.
Many are now aware that Roberts ran over a young wolf with a snowmobile, taped her mouth shut, displayed her at a bar, and then shot her. His actions are appalling, but the minimal punishment he received further underscores the need not only for federal protection of wolves, but to ensure cruelty to predators is met with as heavy of a hand as our canine companions.
When a state agency tasked with wildlife protection permits or even condones such cruelty, it highlights their inability to effectively manage carnivorous animals. In Wyoming, wolves are classified as "predatory animals" in 85% of the state, exempting them from the usual hunting restrictions and seasons applied under state wildlife management rules.
Inflicting harm on any animal, regardless of its dietary habits, is undeniably an act of cruelty—a conviction strongly held by both Wyoming residents and people around the globe.
Lenient regulations on wolves in Wyoming, along with the absence of federal protections for wolf populations in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, create an environment that encourages the mistreatment of these animals. Without federal oversight, there is a risk of increased instances of such behavior, particularly given the strong pro-livestock industry bias present in the state’s legal and political systems. Policies allowing for wolf torture can communicate a lesser importance of wolves and perceived value of each animal within the species, normalizing inhumane treatment.
Wyoming’s narrow interpretation of animal cruelty laws, which excludes not only wolves but other predators such as coyotes, jackrabbits, porcupines, raccoons, red foxes, skunks, or stray cats, reveals a broader issue of inadequate animal protection laws in the state. This legislative gap not only facilitates the mistreatment of these animals but also places Wyoming at the bottom tier of state animal protection laws nationwide. Animal abuse is frequently seen as a sign of psychopathic tendencies and is regarded as a precursor to more severe forms of violence against humans, underscoring the pressing importance of this legislative deficiency.
The brutal torture and killing of a gray wolf behind a Wyoming bar underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of predator species protection, both at the state and federal levels. This incident brings to light the necessity of reassessing current regulations and implementing reforms that emphasize ethical treatment, science-based wildlife management, and sustainable coexistence between wildlife and human industries.
Adapted from an OpEd written by Dagny Signorelli of Western Watersheds Project.