While meeting Tuesday in Riverton, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission issued a statement starkly condemning the apparent torment of a wolf in Sublette County that’s sparked a huge response from around the globe.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Gordon had called some state officials and other “stakeholders” regarding the wolf incident in Daniel, Wyoming, as well as for a review of the state’s general policy toward wolves.
Doesn’t Represent Wyoming
The Game and Fish Commission is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Riverton. The board’s agenda makes no mention of the incident with the wolf. It contains usual business, such as finalizing this fall’s big game hunting seasons.
And the essentially unregulated hunting and killing wolves in Wyoming’s “predator zone” for the species, where the alleged incident took place, isn’t directly managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. So normally, the subject of killing wolves in the predator zone wouldn’t come up during a commission meeting.
However, the board saw fit to unanimously approve the statement and release it Tuesday afternoon strongly condemning what happened.
It reads:
“By way of this statement, the Commission denounces the actions that were revealed following the (Game and Fish) Department’s investigation of the incident. The actions of the defendant do not represent the value Wyoming people and our Commission have for our incredible and priceless wildlife resources.
“For over one hundred years, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has successfully managed Wyoming’s wildlife. Wyoming has proven itself to be the gold standard in wildlife management. This incident perpetrated by one individual does not represent a failure in wildlife policy or management.
“We wish to be clear: We support the investigation conducted by the Department. We recognize and appreciate the work of the Department and the work of the Wardens involved. We’re satisfied that every tool we have available was used, and used to the best of our ability. The Department has acted with transparency and in compliance with Wyoming law.”
According to accounts of events Feb. 29, Cody Roberts, 42, of Daniel ran a wolf down with his snowmobile and captured it. He then took the animal to his residence, and then later showed it off in a local bar before killing it.
Game and Fish cited Roberts for illegal possession of a live wolf and fined him $250.
Governor Has An Eye On Things
Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik during the commission meeting also mentioned that Gov. Mark Gordon had been in contact with some “stakeholders” regarding the “incident.”
Gordon has reached out to some unspecified parties, but as of Tuesday no working group or other such body had been formed to address what happened and no direct action was planned, Michael Pearlman, spokesman for Gordon’s office, told Cowboy State Daily.
“The governor did have a joint call with a few state officials and stakeholders to discuss what occurred in Sublette County, and wolf management in general. There was agreement to continue to monitor the situation as it develops,” Pearlman said.
He added that the names of the officials and other parties involved are being kept confidential for safety reasons.
“Given the safety and security concerns that have arisen due to publicity surrounding this issue, including threats that public officials as well as anyone even tangentially involved with this incident have been receiving, I’m going to decline to provide the names of the attendees on the call or additional details,” Pearlman said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
