Wyoming must clean up its reputation

Wyoming Wildlife Advocates & Jackson Hole Bear Solutions

MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING FORWARD. PROSECUTORS ARE LISTENING. WYOMING CAN DO BETTER IN 2026.

Over the past two years Wyoming has seen several shocking incidents of wildlife abuse that have disgusted residents and the nation. High-profile prosecutions including the felony indictment in the widely reported December-2025/November-2025 developments around the Cody Roberts case show that when the public, the press, and advocates demand accountability, prosecutors will act.

A separate, horrifying case in Uinta County, where video evidence of men roping, riding and dragging a cow moose led to felony cruelty charges. Unfortunately this is a continued pattern we are seeing in Wyoming.

Citizens and journalists bringing these cases into the light helped convert disturbing videos into criminal charges. We have to keep speaking up.

Wyoming’s wildlife is part of what makes this state special, and our economy depends on people believing we respect that heritage. Recent prosecutions and courtroom developments show progress, but laws must follow. Together, we can make 2026 the year Wyoming cleans up its reputation and makes cruelty truly unacceptable and punishable.

READ MORE FROM COWBOY STATE DAILY HERE AND HERE

WHY THIS MATTERS AND WHAT WWA HAS DONE

Shining a spotlight: WWA’s advocacy, public education, and coordination with journalists and local groups have helped ensure footage and reports don’t disappear. They reach prosecutors and the public. That pressure matters; recent indictments did not happen in a vacuum.

Encouraging reporting: People who once feared social or political backlash are now more willing to report cruelty because they see consequences and community support. That increase in reporting is directly connected to more investigations and, in the Daniel wolf torture case, grand jury actions.

Raising public standards: These prosecutions change norms. They tell everyone that gratuitous abuse of wildlife will be inspected, litigated, and discussed publicly, not swept under the rug. Cruelty to wildlife and other animals is not just "boys being boys" or business as usual in Wyoming.

THE LAW NEEDS TO CATCH UP: OUR PRIORITY FOR 2026

Wyoming still allows methods of vehicular killing and other practices that make it hard to deter or punish some of the worst abuse. WWA is pushing for a clear, enforceable law in 2026 that would outlaw the deliberate vehicular killing of ALL wildlife and elevate such acts to a felony when done maliciously. This change would:

Remove legal ambiguity for prosecutors;

Increase deterrence; and

Align Wyoming with the expectations of residents and visitors who value wildlife and our outdoor economy.

We will be sharing more information as we get into the 2026 legislative session.

RECENT CASES IN WYOMING

CODY ROBERTS ATTORNEY ASKS JUDGE TO DISMISS CASE

In one of the most widely covered wildlife cruelty cases in Wyoming history, Cody Roberts has filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the charge. His attorney argues that the prosecutor has “stretched the law” beyond what the statute plainly says and that existing Wyoming law exempts predator killing from cruelty charges, making the felony count legally invalid. The defense has asked Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the charge could not be brought again.

Robert Piper, Roberts' attorney stated in his argument, “Here the instant statutes could not be clearer and more precise. The Legislature first issued a broad prohibition against animal cruelty.”

He continued: “Then, likely realizing that such a broad prohibition would impact animal husbandry and agriculture throughout the state, the Legislature added a specific, clearly enumerated exception” for pests and predators.

Let's be clear, torture and torment of an animal is not animal husbandry nor an agricultural practice. If it is, we need to look further within ourselves as a state and decide what our values are and what we are allowing under the law.

This motion comes after Roberts’ not-guilty plea and a scheduled jury trial set for March 9, 2026. While the motion is pending, the case remains active and highlights how urgently Wyoming needs clearer, stronger laws that explicitly cover cruelty to wildlife, including vehicular killing and torture, instead of leaving prosecutors to fight over statutory interpretation.

Remember also that we sent a letter from a lawyer to the prosecutor when this first came to light stating that the animal abuse statute applies to all animals.