CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — People outraged by how a man ran down a wolf with a snowmobile, taped the injured animal’s mouth shut and brought it into a bar last winter failed to persuade Wyoming lawmakers on Monday to outlaw killing predators with vehicles as ranching industry representatives stood by the practice as a useful way to keep predator numbers in check.
After public comments almost entirely opposed the practice, a legislative committee voted unanimously to move ahead with a bill that for the first time would impose penalties for running down predators — but only under specific circumstances.
The bill that passed 10-0 would charge the driver with animal cruelty if the animal survives impact and isn’t killed right away. The bill doesn’t specify how the creature should be killed but not doing so could mean up to a $1,000 fine and loss of state hunting and fishing privileges for up to three years.
Beyond that, running down…