Hunters and biologists concerned over ethical ramifications for the state’s wolf management policy
It may be legal to kill wolves in Wyoming, but this goes a bit too far. A Wyoming man has been charged with torturing and killing a wolf behind a bar back in February. According to reports the man ran the wolf down with a snowmobile on Feb. 29 in order to disable it. However, instead of killing the animal, he apparently taped its mouth shut and took it home before taking it to a bar in Daniel, Wyoming, a small town in Sublette County. After showing the animal off, the man took it out back and shot it, according to the Cowboy State Daily.
“The individual was hunting when he came across the wolf in the predator zone and intended to harvest it,” said Breanna Ball, Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) spokesperson. “However, the wolf was transported alive back to his residence and later to a business in Daniel, WY. The individual euthanized the wolf later that day.”
According to WGFD, the individual was cited for violating Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife and only had to pay a $250 fine for this type of violation.
While the WGFD did not release the name of the person cited, Sublette County Circuit Court records show that Cody Roberts was cited for a wildlife violation that occurred on the same date.
Several hunters and biologists spoke anonymously to the Cowboy State Daily, calling the incident one that was “an egregious violation of hunting ethics and a black eye for Wyoming.” The focus being on the cruelty applied to this situation as the wolf was clearly tortured prior to being euthanized. It could "turn the tide of nationwide public sentiment against Wyoming’s wolf policy,” according to one anonymous source.
“When this story gets out, and it will, this is going to drastically change the discussion about wolf management in Wyoming,” said the source.
Current wolf management policy in the state is three-pronged:
What do you think? Will this incident fuel the fire on how wolves are managed in the state? Is the fine too low for this type of crime?
Inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, wolves retain full federation protections, making it illegal to hunt them.
Areas of Wyoming adjacent to these parks have “trophy hunting zones” where hunting is allowed, but wolf hunting tags are required and there are predetermined quotas and designated hunting seasons.
Outside of these areas – roughly 85% of the state – wolves are considered predators that can be killed anytime, anywhere without a bag limit or tag.
