In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, a man in Wyoming has been fined $250 for allegedly parading a yearling wolf into a bar before killing it behind the building. Cody Roberts, a local hunter, reportedly chased down the wolf with a snowmobile, disabled it, and then wrapped tape around its mouth before bringing it inside the Green River Bar in Daniel on February 29th.

Roberts, who posed with his arm around the wolf and a beer in his hand, now faces demands for felony animal cruelty charges, with nearly 70,000 people signing a petition calling for harsher punishment. Felony animal cruelty charges carry a penalty of up to a $5,000 fine and two years in prison.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has refrained from commenting on the matter, stating that information regarding wolves taken in Wyoming is not a public record. However, they did reveal that Roberts violated a regulation governing the possession of live wild animals.

According to state laws enacted in 2012 to protect hunters' privacy, Roberts' actions might not qualify as a privacy violation since he did not legally take the wolf. The law applies only to individuals legally taking a wolf, and not to those who broke the law to acquire a live wolf.

State wildlife officials, on the other hand, argue that Roberts' killing of the wolf was legal, as it occurred within Wyoming's predator zone. They claim that animal cruelty statutes do not apply to predator species such as wolves and coyotes, raising concerns among animal rights activists who find it outrageous that these animals can be tortured without legal repercussions.

Scott Edwards, general counsel for American Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, expresses concern over the perceived lenient response from law enforcement, stating that it may encourage others with similar hatred towards wolves to engage in repugnant behavior. Dan Ashe, president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, suggests that a review of statutes in every state may be necessary to ensure that such acts of cruelty are punishable.

The incident has shed light on the need for stricter animal welfare regulations and has highlighted the urgent need to protect predator species from acts of violence. Animal rights activists hope that this case will serve as a catalyst for change, prompting authorities to take more decisive action against those who engage in such cruel behavior.