CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A disturbing incident in which a man used a snowmobile to run over a wolf, then taped its mouth shut and paraded it in a bar, has sparked significant public outrage. In response, lawmakers are considering changes to Wyoming’s animal cruelty law that would hold individuals accountable for intentionally running over wolves, even if those actions occur within legal hunting practices.
The proposed draft legislation is set to be discussed by a legislative committee on Monday. If passed, the legislation would still permit individuals to run over wolves but would require that the wolf be killed quickly, either on impact or shortly thereafter. This change aims to amend a current law that exempts predators like wolves from animal cruelty provisions.
Under the proposed revisions, if a wolf survives an intentional collision, the person responsible would be mandated to use “all reasonable efforts” to euthanize the animal immediately. However, the draft does not outline specific methods for dispatching a surviving wolf.
The incident that reignited the conversation about wolf management policies occurred last winter in western Wyoming, where the wolf was filmed lying on the bar floor in Sublette County. This shocking footage led some advocates to call for a boycott of Wyoming’s significant tourism industry, which relies heavily on attractions like Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, prime habitats for wolves.
Despite these calls to action, the boycott effort has had minimal effect, and Yellowstone is projected to have one of its busiest summer seasons on record. Meanwhile, the individual responsible for running over the wolf received a $250 citation for illegal possession of wildlife, but he faced no more severe charges related to the incident.
Efforts to investigate the wolf’s case have encountered obstacles, as witnesses in Sublette County have declined to cooperate. County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich confirmed via email that the investigation remains active but offered no further comments on its status.
The current draft legislation would enable prosecutors to charge anyone who purposefully hits a wolf and fails to kill it immediately with felony animal cruelty. However, the frequency of such incidents of intentional wolf killings remains unclear, as they do not require reporting, and documented cases like the one in Sublette County are quite rare.
This case has drawn attention to Wyoming’s regulatory framework regarding wolf populations, which is among the least restrictive in the country. In Wyoming, wolves are viewed as a threat to livestock, leading to tensions among ranchers and hunters in rural areas. State laws aim to manage wolf populations and prevent their spread beyond protected areas like Yellowstone.
While wolves receive federal protections as endangered or threatened species in most of the U.S., Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana operate under different laws, allowing for hunting and trapping. In Wyoming, wolves can be killed without restrictions in 85% of the state outside the Yellowstone region.
Despite widespread disapproval of the wolf incident, officials have been hesitant to reform laws that might deter cruelty. Jim Magagna from the Wyoming Stock Growers Association condemned the wolf’s treatment but emphasized that such an event is isolated and not reflective of the state’s wolf management practices.
Kristin Combs, executive director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, noted, “Everyone is against torturing animals. I haven’t met anyone who supports this.” With ongoing discussions regarding policy changes, many hope to see improvements that safeguard not only wolf populations but also address public concern for animal welfare.
