Sign: Hunter Tortured Injured, Duct-Taped Wolf At Bar Before Fatal Shooting

Published: April 08, 2024 at 07:46 PM Author: PENNY EIMS

Daniel, Wyoming – A Wyoming hunter has found himself at the center of public disgust and outrage for torturing an injured wolf before killing the animal behind a bar.

The man at the center of the controversy is 42-year-old Cody Roberts.

The firestorm of outrage stems from the February 29 incident when Roberts allegedly ran over the young wolf with a snowmobile, causing enough injury to the animal that he was able to capture it. Roberts proceeded to take the wolf home, where he wrapped the snout with red tape before heading to the Green River Bar to show off his injured and muzzled “prize.”

The images from the bar are heart wrenching – Roberts is beaming while the injured, muzzled young wolf sits by his side, terrified and in pain, waiting for life to end.

Though killing a wolf is legal in the county, torturing a wolf is not. According to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Roberts was cited for a misdemeanor violation of Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations, Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife. The citation carried a paltry $250 fine.

Wayne Pacelle, President of Animal Wellness Action, commented on the abhorrent incident, explaining why the barbaric cruelty must be punished:

“The man who committed this atrocious act of animal cruelty cannot go without punishment under state or federal law, or both. Running over and crushing an animal with a snowmobile, binding the battered and wounded animal’s mouth shut, and deciding to further torment the creature in front of an audience rather than putting him out of his misery is the textbook definition of malicious cruelty. A remorseless, cruel monster like this is a threat to other animals, and a threat to people. The law must speak.”

As reported in the Colorado Sun, Wolf biologist Doug Smith reviewed the video footage and believes this was a yearling born in 2023, making her just nine months of age when she was tortured and killed. “It’s recovering from severe injury, and it’s probably got internal organ damage,” Smith told WyoFile, “The fact that this wolf should be freaking out — and it’s not — indicates it’s in pain and badly injured.”

Not only was this magnificent, young animal’s life prematurely snuffed out, but she was tortured and tormented in the process. If you are disgusted by what this wolf suffered through on February 29, please add your name to the petition. Animal Victory is fighting for change! Unethical hunting practices MUST be brought to an end and what this regal animal endured should NEVER happen to another living creature.

In the words of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management:

“Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching – even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

Wildlife protection laws must be created and enforced for the Cody Roberts of the world. The people who do not behave ethically. People who do the wrong thing, just because they can.

We the undersigned demand that Cody Roberts face more than a misdemeanor violation for the torture and torment of a young wolf. This petition acts as our collective endorsement for Roberts to face true consequences for his actions.  Together we will fight for wildlife protection. Animal cruelty is animal cruelty, regardless of whether the animal is domesticated or wild. 

Animal Victory is petitioning Mr. Clayton Melinkovich, Sublette County Attorney, at  clayton.melinkovich@sublettecountywy.gov, for felony animal cruelty charges, and Governor Mark Gordan, with our demand for better wildlife protection in the state.

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

News:

Cowboy State Daily

Daily Mail

New York Post

Update 7/1/2024: Photos from rally in D.C.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8xbcZ8REax/?igsh=MWhzaDBqaGdraDFlcA%3D%3D

Update 6.10.2024: Wildlife groups will be riding their motorcycles to D.C. in less than two weeks to rally to get wolves relisted under the Endangered Species Act on account of this situation.

Update 4/27/2024: Reporter Paul Mueller uncovers potential conflict of interest between Cody Roberts’ trucking company and the Game and Fish Commission. See video below.

Update 4/18/2024: On 4/18/24, Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich contacted Animal Victory to let us know that has unable to “speak with specificity or discuss” his intentions moving forward “as that kind of information could hinder any investigation and infringe on a person’s due process rights they are guaranteed under the United States and Wyoming Constitutions.” He added, “Both Sheriff Lehr and I have taken oaths of office to uphold the United State and Wyoming Constitutions and have our own ethics and rules of professional conduct by which we must abide. Please know that the fact that Mr. Roberts has not been charged with a crime by this office at this time does not mean that Sheriff Lehr or myself are not doing our jobs.”

Update 4/15/2024: Outrage is skyrocketing as people around the world learn about Cody Roberts’ cruel antics at the Green River Bar. More footage of the February 29 incident has been released; Roberts can be seen kissing the dying wolf, mocking the animal’s pain and misery. The wolf, grievously wounded after Roberts ran him over with a snowmobile, was made to suffer at the bar for hours before his life was ended. 

The growing outrage is putting pressure on the Sublette County Attorney and Game and Fish; the agencies are actively investigating to see if felony animal cruelty charges are warranted. Animal Victory has sent the petition to Clayton Melinkovich, the Sublette County Attorney, and Sublette County Sheriff K.C. Lehr. We will continue to pursue this situation until justice is served for the wolf who suffered at Cody Roberts’ hands. While killing a wolf may be legal in Wyoming, allowing a wounded animal to suffer for hours, exploiting its agony for entertainment, falls into a moral gray area. We are advocating to make such actions illegal—it must never happen again to another wild animal.

Update 4/15/2024: This petition has been sent to Governor Mark Gordan, Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich, Sublette Sheriff K.C. Lehr, and Kate G. Mckay, District Court Judge.  We will continue to send signatures.

Hunter Tortured Injured, Duct-Taped Wolf At Bar Before Shooting Him

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Latest Signatures
23,734 Linda L. 0 Nov 02, 2024
23,733 Faith N. This is a felony. 0 Oct 28, 2024
23,732 Nina A. What this man did to the wolf should be done to Him!! 0 Oct 27, 2024
23,731 Sarah m. 0 Oct 26, 2024
23,730 Kerry P. 0 Oct 20, 2024
23,729 Maurine M. 0 Oct 18, 2024
23,728 Dawn Marie C. We will Never Forget! 0 Oct 15, 2024
23,727 sue p. 0 Oct 09, 2024
23,726 Melissa B. 0 Oct 07, 2024
23,725 Patricia G. 0 Sep 27, 2024
23,724 Lorraine A. 0 Sep 26, 2024
23,723 Megan T. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,722 Karine D. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,721 Kathy P. This has got to stop!!! Anyone with a streak of such cruelty can't be trusted with any animals domestic or wild or perhaps even people. Please help. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,720 Caryn A. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,719 Anne C. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,718 Vickie J. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,717 Lorie B. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,716 Megan T. 0 Sep 25, 2024
23,715 Sylvie L. MONSTRUEUX !!!😤😡🤬😢😢 0 Sep 22, 2024
23,714 Jamie C. Sick animal abuser that needs to spend time in jail for treating a wild animal like this. Make him pay for this abuse 0 Sep 19, 2024
23,713 Annette M. 0 Sep 17, 2024
23,712 Veronika F. Der drecksack lacht auch noch das sind Leute die in unserer Gesellschaft nichts zu suchen haben.die sollte man erschiessen.der Typ ist krank 0 Sep 14, 2024
23,711 Francine D. 0 Sep 13, 2024
23,710 Caterina C. 0 Sep 12, 2024
23,709 Tracey E. 0 Sep 12, 2024
23,708Anonymous 0 Sep 11, 2024
23,707Anonymous 0 Sep 11, 2024
23,706 Carla B. 0 Sep 08, 2024
23,705 Susan A. This evil scum needs locking away,he has no empathy for any living creatures and therefore a danger to society 0 Sep 08, 2024
23,704 Keeton W. Disposable behavior by alcoholic . 0 Sep 06, 2024
23,703 Robin G. 0 Sep 05, 2024
23,702 Laurence B. 0 Sep 04, 2024
23,701 margie m. 0 Sep 03, 2024
23,700Anonymous THIS SICK SON OF A BITCH SHOULD BE FINED & IMPRISONED FOR TORTURE & MURDER' BUT BECAUSE OF THE SICK LEGAL SYSTEM & ANIMAL KILLERS IN IT, IT WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN. INNOCENT NON HUMANS ARE THE MOST MISTREATED- MURDERED BY GREEDY NARCISSISTIC HUMAN PREDITORS. 0 Sep 03, 2024
23,699 Renee V. Cody Roberts and the laws of Wyoming allowing animal torture is a disgrace to this nation. How heartbreaking that this man- child received only a 250 dollar fine for what he did to that beautiful female wolf pup. He is a monster. However, the laws in Wyoming seem to allow animal torture. So sick 0 Sep 03, 2024
23,698 Fabiana B. 0 Sep 02, 2024
23,697 Julie M. 0 Sep 02, 2024
23,696 Ira K. 0 Sep 01, 2024
23,695 Janet W. 0 Aug 30, 2024
23,694 Jimena Florencia D. 0 Aug 29, 2024
23,693 Candace V. Should cut the guys d*** off in front of people. He should live the rest of his life behind bars & torcherd himself. I have no care for human animals like him! 0 Aug 28, 2024
23,692Anonymous Shameful 0 Aug 24, 2024
23,691 Sergio P. 0 Aug 24, 2024
23,690 Mel G. 0 Aug 24, 2024
23,689 Matthew S. 0 Aug 24, 2024
23,688 Destanie S. Animal cruelty is not ok! 0 Aug 24, 2024
23,687Anonymous 0 Aug 23, 2024
23,686 Pat S. 0 Aug 18, 2024
23,685 Loula C. 0 Aug 18, 2024