Amid a cloud of outrage stemming from a harrowing incident in which a man used a snowmobile to run down a wolf, taped its injured mouth shut, and brought the suffering animal into a bar last winter, Wyoming lawmakers were unmoved in their stance to outlaw killing predators with vehicles. Representatives of the ranching industry stood by the practice, citing it as a crucial tool for controlling predator populations.
During a legislative committee meeting on Monday, public comments fervently opposed the practice. Nonetheless, the committee voted unanimously to proceed with a bill that would, for the first time, impose penalties for running down predators—but only under certain conditions.
The bill that passed with a 10-0 vote stipulates that drivers would face charges of animal cruelty if the animal survives the collision and is not killed immediately. While the bill does not specify the method of euthanasia, failing to kill the animal could result in fines of up to $1,000 and the suspension of state hunting and fishing privileges for up to three years. Beyond these parameters, running down predators would remain legal under the proposed measure, which now advances for potential discussion in the Wyoming Legislature come winter.
Wyoming, with its extensive cattle and sheep ranching operations, has a deeply-rooted history of attempting to mitigate predators that threaten livestock. Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, conveyed to the state Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee, “What we’ve seen in recent years, after decades of managing predators, is an incremental erosion of the tools we rely on. We simply can’t afford, as an industry, to lose any more of these essential tools.”
The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation also endorsed the bill, with support articulated by Brett Moline, the organization’s director of public and governmental affairs.
Despite this support, the bill met with significant opposition during a half-hour public testimony session, during which a dozen individuals, both in person and via live video, voiced their dissent. Critics like Denver-area wildlife photographer Bill Masure admonished the committee, questioning, “Do you want to be known as the state that legalized running down animals for sport?” Glenda Meyer of Carlsbad, California, urged for a greater humanitarian approach, stating, “This bill should read, ‘Do not run over anything, in any way, for any reason.’ Arguing over whether it’s humane or the timeline or whether you should do it or shouldn’t do it misses the point—the act of running over any creature with a vehicle is inherently inhumane. It’s incredibly disturbing.”
The wolf incident last winter in western Wyoming has prompted many to reevaluate state policies toward wolves. Wildlife advocates have challenged the state’s hesitance to amend laws formulated after comprehensive negotiations to remove federal protections for the species.
In a disturbing scene caught on camera, the injured wolf was shown lying on a bar floor in Sublette County. This led to calls for a boycott of Wyoming’s lucrative $4.8 billion tourism industry, chiefly centered around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, which are prime habitats for wolves. Yet, these efforts have had little impact, as Yellowstone is on track for one of its busiest summer seasons to date.
The individual responsible for the wolf’s death—after displaying the wolf—received a mere $250 fine for illegal possession of wildlife but faced no harsher repercussions. Investigators in Sublette County report that their inquiry into the incident has stagnated, citing uncooperative witnesses. County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich confirmed by email that the case remains under investigation, though he declined to provide further details.
The frequency of wolves being intentionally run over in Wyoming, whether for a swift death or otherwise, remains unknown. Such acts do not require reporting, and documented cases like the one in Sublette County are rare. This incident has spotlighted Wyoming’s lenient policies on predator control. Throughout most of the U.S., wolves enjoy federal protection as endangered or threatened species. However, in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, state laws permit hunting and trapping, and in Wyoming, wolves may be killed without restriction in 85% of the state, excluding the Yellowstone area.
Although few in Wyoming have openly defended the actions taken against the wolf, officials remain hesitant to revise the law to deter such mistreatment.
