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A man in Wyoming is accused of capturing a live wolf earlier this year and bringing it to a bar.
Patrons of a bar in Sublette County, WY were going about their business on February 29. Imagine their surprise when a man walked in towing a live muzzled wolf.
According to Cowboy State Daily, this is exactly what happened.
The man in question was identified online as 42-year-old Cody Roberts.
According to reports, Roberts was snowmobiling and hit the wolf. The wolf was disabled, but the hunter, choosing against the ethical option, did not put the wolf out of its misery.
Muzzled Wolf In a Bar
Rather, Roberts taped the mouth of the wolf shut. Keeping the predator alive, he reportedly first took it to his home and then to the Green River Bar.
The “hunter” allegedly tormented the injured animal, showing it off and dragging it around with him. Eventually, after the other people in the bar raised a cry, he took the muzzled wolf out back and shot it.
Breanna Ball, a Wyoming Fish and Game Department spokesperson, spoke to Cowboy State Daily about the incident.
“An anonymous reporting party notified the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that an individual was alleged to be in possession of a live wolf. The reporting party notified the Department on March 1, 2024. According to the investigation, the individual possessed the live wolf on 2/29/24,”
According to Ball, Roberts was cited and fined $250. Many outside parties feel this is not enough. The issue is that no law strictly covers the treatment of live predators.
Hunting Regulations
Wolves are completely open to hunt in 85% of Wyoming, inside the “predator zone.” Within the “predator zone,” hunters are not required to obtain any tags to shoot a wolf. A small part of Wyoming near the Yellowstone National Park is still protected.
READ MORE: Tennessee Cracks Down On Deer Poaching
Although convenient for wolf hunters, these regulations mean that nothing protects the wolves from “inhumane” treatment.
According to the Denver Gazette, many parties are calling for a policy change. They are “disgusted” by the choice of this “hunter” to muzzle and torment an animal.
Now, Wyoming hunters worry that this unethical act will lead to a change in wolf hunting law. Policy changes might lead to more hoops you must jump through to hunt the predator.
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