A Wyoming hunter who reportedly ran over a gray wolf with a snowmobile, taped the creature’s mouth shut, took a picture with it inside a local bar and then shot it to death behind the tavern has ignited calls for stiffer penalties in such an egregious case of animal abuse.

Cody Roberts, 42, is at the center of the uproar after being ticketed and fined a couple of hundred dollars for illegally possessing the wolf while it was still alive – but so far going unpunished for the manner in which he is said to have killed the animal.

Meanwhile, Wyoming wildlife authorities have kept much of the case hidden under a veil of secrecy, arguing that records on wolves taken in the state are not matter of public record under laws there.

But the news outlet WyoFile.com reported that the laws only protect the privacy of people “legally taking a wolf” within the state and therefore may not apply in the case of Roberts, who stands accused of flagrantly and cruelly violating hunting ethics.

  • Omgboom@lemmy.zip
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    8 months ago

    If he would have just shot it to put it out of it’s misery after it was run over I don’t think anyone would have been upset. But duck taping it’s mouth shut and then transporting it to a bar and then taking pictures for clout, and then shooting it, I hope this guy spends some serious time behind bars.

    • ainokea@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I’m sure he ran it over on purpose too. People like this have no conscience.