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8 months ago
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The family of a hunter who tortured a wolf and paraded it through his local bar before shooting it dead have posted a bizarre reenactment of the scene.
Cody Roberts, 42, was cited and fined for being in possession of the live wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, on February 29, but it was not illegal to kill it.
Roberts posed with the exhausted animal, cracking a beaming smile while gripping it by the scruff of the neck and raising a can of beer.
The wolf, which was injured when Roberts ran it over with a snowmobile, had its mouth taped shut and cowered like an abused puppy.
Cody Roberts, 42, posed with the the exhausted animal, cracking a beaming smile while gripping it by the scruff of the neck and raising a can of beer
Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, a close family member of Roberts who lives in Daniel, reenacted the strange scene with a wolf skin in the same bar - including taping her mouth shut
Witnesses said not long after this photo was taken, Roberts dragged or carried the animal through the Green River Bar as patrons swilled beer.
He then took the wolf away behind the bar, allegedly tortured it, then shot it dead.
Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, a close family member of Roberts who lives in Daniel, reenacted the strange scene with a wolf skin in the same bar.
She posted photos to Facebook of herself with her mouth taped shut, just like the wolf, while holding the skin in front of her.
Ivie-Roberts wrote in another post after Roberts' antis went viral: 'I love and support you Cody'.
She also celebrated the news that animal cruelty laws didn't apply to Roberts' case, and another family member claimed they were getting death threats.
Ivie-Roberts wrote in another post after Roberts' antis went viral: 'I love and support you Cody'
Animals rights campaigners reacted with fury, and were even more upset when it was confirmed Roberts would only face a small fine.
'Roberts' actions clearly warrant a punishment more severe than the $250 ticket he received for possession of live wildlife the Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy wrote in a letter to officials.
'Such an anemic response on the part of law enforcement will be seen by some as tacit approval of his crime and can only motivate other like-minded individuals driven by hatred of wolves to engage in similar, repugnant behavior.'
Roberts, who is a father and owns a trucking company, first met the wolf when he ran it down with a snowmobile and disabled it.
But instead of killing the animal there and then, he kept it, took it home and brought it to the bar.
It is legal to kill wolves in the part of Sublette County, but by keeping the animal alive and tormenting it as Roberts did, he was violating hunting ethics.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed that a man had been cited and fined for the misconduct, but did not name them.
However, Sublette County Circuit Court records showed Roberts was cited for a wildlife violation from an incident on February 29.
Witnesses said not long after this photo was taken, Roberts dragged or carried the animal through the Green River Bar as patrons swilled beer
Roberts, 42, of Daniel, Wyoming, was cited and fined for being in possession of a live wolf during an incident on February 29. He is pictured here with a dead animal he presumably hunted
According to public records, Roberts has a hunting and fishing license.
Roberts did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Adam Hymas, the responding officer, was also contacted but DailyMail.com did not receive a response as of publication.
'An anonymous reporting party notified the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that an individual was alleged to be in possession of a live wolf,' Game and Fish said.
'The reporting party notified the Department on March 1, 2024. According to the investigation, the individual possessed the live wolf on 2/29/24.
'The individual was hunting when he came across the wolf in the predator zone and intended to harvest it.
'However, the wolf was transported alive back to his residence and later to a business in Daniel, Wyoming.
The 42-year-old, who is a father and owns a trucking company, ran the wolf down with a snowmobile and disabled it - but instead of killing the animal there and then, he kept it, took it home and then brought it to the bar
Based on Roberts' social media accounts, he appears to be an avid hunter who frequently hunts wild animals alongside his kids (pictured here)
About 85 percent of Wyoming is a 'predator zone' for wolves - meaning that the wild animals can be killed at any time with no bag limit or hunting days required
'The individual euthanized the wolf later that day. The individual was cited for violating Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife.'
Roberts paid a $250 fine, records indicated.
About 85 percent of Wyoming is a 'predator zone' for wolves - meaning that the wild animals can be killed at any time with no bag limit or hunting days required.
Areas of Wyoming close to nationals parks are considered a 'trophy hunting zone' - meaning that wolves are a 'trophy species' that can be hunted but only by hunters with tags during designated seasons and within predetermined quotas.
Inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks wolves are under full federal protection and are not allowed to be hunted.
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