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Dear Friend,
By now you may have seen far more than you can bear about the heartbreaking torture and killing of a young female wolf in Wyoming by a "man" named Cody Roberts. So if you don't want any more details, we understand, and encourage you to scroll down to the "Four Ways to Speak Out" section below.
The reason we are sending this email is to get as many people as possible to demand change. This Wyoming torture incident cannot be allowed to fade away like politicians and wildlife agencies want it to. It represents everything that's wrong with wolf policy in Northern Rocky Mountain states like Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
We want to see the Wyoming case serve the higher purpose of changing America's overall wildlife policies and help restore wolf protections under the Endangered Species Act. The heightened public interest in this case should make it akin to the Cecil the Lion case in Zimbabwe, which changed public opinion about trophy hunting worldwide. Your voice is key to making this fully happen.
The Wyoming Wolf Atrocity
It merits mentioning that we only know the details of the Wyoming wolf torture because of an after-the-fact report from a witness who was granted anonymity. That person shared that, on February 29, 2024, Cody Roberts ran down a female wolf with his 700-pound snowmobile, severely injuring her. He then wrapped tape tightly around her muzzle, took her to his home, and allegedly let his neighbor’s dogs torment her while he took a long nap and ate dinner. Later he took her to a bar owned by his aunt so others could join in the torturing. This went on for hours, during which the wolf was fitted with a shock collar and patrons took multiple photos and videos. He subsequently took her out back behind the bar, beat her, and killed her.
For this act of animal cruelty, Roberts received only a $250 fine for the misdemeanor of possessing a live wolf. And while it fills us with revulsion to say this, Cody Roberts is only one of countless people who behave this way towards wolves and other essential predators.
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Outrage after US hunter who reportedly took wolf in bar and killed it only fined - The Guardian, April 10, 2024
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Eyewitness describes Wyoming wolf’s final hours in the Green River Bar - WyoFile, April 12, 2024
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Yes, It’s Legal to Run Down Wolves and Coyotes with Snowmobiles in Wyoming - Yellowstonian, April 15, 2024 (Note: It's also legal in Idaho.)
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We should outlaw killing for fun - opinion by Thomas Mangelsen, Jackson Hole News and Guide, April 17, 2024
Abuse of Wildlife Sets Dangerous Precedent; Animal Abusers Are Often Psychopaths
It has been reassuring to see the public recoil over this event and urge both serious wolf policy reform and holding Cody Roberts fully accountable for his crime. One of our favorite public testimonies was given to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department yesterday by KC York, president and founder of Trap Free Montana. Here is a transcript of what York said regarding the pathetic response by authorities, who haven't adequately addressed the crime, and the serious psychological implications of the behavior of Cody Roberts and others like him:
"Do we definitely know that this wolf was killed by gun shot? If so, then wouldn't that be illegal to discharge a firearm in town? If he [Cody Roberts], and maybe others, bludgeoned her to death as we're hearing, well under Wyoming law that would be illegal.
Because she's classified as a predator, animal cruelty and torture can be done to a predator. Yet we, too, are predators. People cannot run over each other with snowmobiles, injure, capture, bound their mouths shut and torment them, as a helpless public spectacle. The condoning of abuse against wildlife sets a dangerous precedent, and for all.
In my work in the mental health field with children, a child who was cruel to animals was a huge red flag...likely was desensitized to violence and lacked guilt or remorse. Cruelty to animals is considered one of three symptoms that predict the development of a psychopath. People who are capable of such inhumane acts have a severely underdeveloped sense of empathy. They lack the ability to comprehend or care about the distress or agony they are causing. The FBI now tracks offenses of animal cruelty. Numerous studies show the relationship of animal abuse to violence against humans...
Had wolves been relisted, this $250 fine would have been up to $50,000, a year in prison, and loss of his snowmobile. It's the maltreatment that contributes [to] and reenforces our position in a recently filed lawsuit to relist wolves.
End these atrocities...and treat them--these sentient beings--with respect honor and support, their rightful role in ecosystems.
The mismanagement of wildlife is against the public trust. You can do better.
You've gone under the radar a long time. Now you're not.
Thank you."
Four Ways to Speak Out Against Wyoming's Animal Cruelty
Politicians are hoping this story will just fade away, so they can go back to business as usual. Let's not let them. Let's pump up and maintain the volume, while also remembering to be as polite and respectful as you can. Here are four actions you can take:
1. CONTACT WYOMING'S GOVERNOR
Tell Wyoming's Governor, Mark Gordon, that Cody Roberts needs to be substantively punished for his animal cruelty and you won't be visiting his state until it reforms its wolf policies and bans torturing and intentionally running over wildlife.
PHONE: 307-777-7434
ONLINE: Submit typed message via https://governor.wyo.gov/contact/governor
2. CONTACT WYOMING'S GAME & FISH DIRECTOR
Tell Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Director, Brian Nesvick, that Cody Roberts needs to be substantively punished for his cruelty, their wolf policies need serious reform, and they must ban torturing and intentionally running over wildlife.
PHONE: 307-777-4600
ONLINE: Submit typed message via https://wgfd.wyo.gov/contact-us
3. BOYCOTT WYOMING
Tell Wyoming's tourism folks that Cody Roberts needs to be punished for his cruelty and you won't be visiting their state until they reform their wolf policies and ban torturing and intentionally running over wildlife.
PHONE: 307-777-7777 or 800-225-5996
EMAIL: tourism@wyo.gov
https://travelwyoming.com/contact-us/
https://www.facebook.com/visitwyoming
4. SHARE THIS EMAIL WITH ALL YOUR CONNECTIONS!
Please Accept Our Heartfelt Thank You
We feel we can never adequately convey the ways in which your support and words of encouragement make all the difference. We simply couldn't do this work without you. Thank you for everything you do to help protect wolves and other vital apex predators from people like Cody Roberts.
For all that is wild and free,
Brooks Fahy
Executive Director
Predator Defense
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"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it."
- Michelangelo
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