CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Monday, Sept. 30, the Wyoming Legislature’s Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee voted unanimously to pass a bill that for the first time will impose penalties for running down predators — but only under specific circumstances.
Historically, Wyoming has allowed the use of snowmobiles and other vehicles to run over wolves and other wildlife. After Wyoming resident Cody Roberts ran over and possessed an injured female wolf on Feb. 29, the public, animal rights groups and environmental organizations lobbied for stricter predator cruelty laws.
On Sept. 12, federal lawmakers pursued new legislation, the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons (SAW) Act, to prohibit the intentional killing of wolves, coyotes and other wildlife with a snowmobile on federal lands. The SAW Act failed to gain traction due to pressure from the ranching industry, according to the Associated Press.
Instead, the legislative committee moved ahead with a bill that would charge the driver with animal cruelty if the animal survives impact and isn’t killed right away. The bill doesn’t specify how the predator should be killed. The penalty for not swiftly killing the animal could result in fine of up to $1,000 and the loss of state hunting and fishing privileges for up to three years.
The bill is headed to the Wyoming Legislature for future discussion.
