WYOMING — On Wednesday, Aug. 28, Wyoming’s Treatment of Predators Working Group released two draft bills poised to establish legislation for the treatment of wolves and coyotes in the state.
Both proposed bills, which are sponsored by Teton County Representative and Chair of the Predators Working Group Liz Storer, are expected to be considered by the Wyoming legislature this fall. Storer told Buckrail that the Working Group is a selection of legislators, public agency officials and representatives of the agriculture industry and sportsmen groups.
This subgroup was formed to consider potential changes in laws regarding the treatment of predators after a man from Daniel ran over a wolf with his snowmobile and then brought the injured animal to a local bar on Feb. 29.
The ‘Animal Abuse/Predatory Animals’ draft bill proposes that any person who intentionally injures or disables a predatory animal by use of an automotive vehicle, motor-propelled wheeled vehicle or vehicle designed for travel over snow must use all reasonable efforts to kill the injured animal immediately. If a person fails to use immediate action to disable or kill the animal, then they will be charged with animal cruelty.
The draft bill also proposes increasing the maximum fine for a first time animal cruelty conviction from $750 to $1,000. There is no minimum penalty for violating this provision. It also proposes that a first offense of cruelty to animals would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months.
The ‘Requirements For The Taking Of Predatory Animals’ draft bill proposes that Game and Fish officials can kill predatory animals and predacious birds without a license in any humane manner and at any time. The department would need to report the methods used to remove animals and birds annually to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. The same animal cruelty statutes would apply to Game and Fish personnel.
Storer said that each individual in the Predators Working Group brings his or her own perspective and that the proposed bills do not represent the prevailing public opinion.
“Based on public testimony to date, the chasm between what the public thinks we should do to address the legality of wanton animal cruelty in Wyoming and what the committee has been willing to support to date remains quite vast,” Storer said.
Many conservation groups have opposed the proposed legislation for failing to prohibit running over animals with snowmobiles and other vehicles.
“I’m disgusted that Wyoming won’t even consider outlawing the barbaric use of snowmobiles to chase wolves and other animals to exhaustion and run them over,” Center for Biological Diversity Carnivore Conservation Program Legal Director Andrea Zaccardi said. “With the nation watching, Wyoming had the opportunity to finally take a stand against animal cruelty.”
The Treatment of Predators Working Group will meet again by zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 4 to review the draft legislation, and will then submit it to the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources (TRW) committee during its Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 meeting in Cheyenne.
