Horse hoarding occurs in Wyoming. It is a complex form of animal cruelty involving the accumulation of more horses than can be properly cared for. This can result in neglect, malnutrition, and illness, often by the owner's delusional belief that he or she is saving them.

While many groups are pressing policymakers to more quickly phase out lead ammunition and fishing tackle and transition to non-toxic alternatives, some Republican lawmakers in Congress are pushing to pass H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, that would block any federal agency from restricting the use of lead ammunition.

“You know, looking at your pull-up posters really makes me uneasy. When I asked myself why, I realized it was because I had no idea about any of these awful animal cruelty cases. Thanks for educating me and for what you do”. It was one of many similar comments I received recently while staffing a booth at the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles exist on the impacts on wildlife of lead poisoning from lead-based bullets, lead shot, and fishing tackle. The insidious, long-term impacts of lead poisoning have been known for centuries. Lead in paint and children’s toys has been regulated in the U.S. for years. But lead ammunition and tackle remain largely unregulated. Lead poisoning was first identified as a disease in wild birds in an 1842.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department has an official hunting season for crows: Nov. 1 to Feb. 28. Killing is by firearm, archery, or falconry.  No license required, no bag limit.  A departmental advisory informs hunters about distinguishing crows, which can be killed, from ravens, which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Ravens have wedge-shaped tails, are more skilled at soaring, have stouter beaks, are larger than crows, and vocalize differently. It is more a croak than a caw. 

Cody Roberts, the Wyoming rancher who tortured and killed a wolf in Daniel, Wyoming in 2024, was finally sentenced. Sweetwater County District Judge Richard Lavery sentenced Roberts to 18 months’ probation as part of a plea deal. If Roberts meets the plea deal requirements, he will stay out of prison.

The Wolf Moon rises in the deep of winter, when the land is stripped back to bone and breath fogs the air. Sap runs inward and life listens closely to itself. This moon has long been burdened with fear. Wolves, after all, have been cast as villains- devourers, threats, monsters of the margins. Shadows pacing just beyond the village fire. Teeth in the dark. Hunger with a face.

And yet. This fear has never belonged to the wolf.

The torture of a wolf by Cody Roberts is not an isolated incident of individual depravity. It is the logical outcome of a system that has normalized violence toward predators. Cruelty can be trivialized and accepted, as it was the night Cody Roberts ran the young female wolf to exhaustion and taped her mouth shut.

The story of wolf recovery in California took a devastating turn in October 2025, when the state sanctioned the killing of the Beyem Seyo pack—the first authorized wolf killings in modern times. Four adults were killed, three pups remain unaccounted for, and two others are reportedly within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife system awaiting transfer to sanctuary.

The Center for Biological Diversity recently released a report warning that Colorado is flying blind on wildlife killing because the state doesn’t require basic reporting on pine martens, ringtails, foxes and other animals, even as hunters and trappers kill unlimited numbers each year. 

I didn’t even know she was still alive. But when the announcement came that Brigitte Bardot had passed away in late December 2025, I read her obituary. In doing so, I remembered one thing and learned another. 

Wyoming Untrapped was delighted to partner with WYCAP on a trap-release workshop in Laramie, our second such opportunity. There has been a history of pet-trapping injuries in the area, six in one winter season a few years ago. A second workshop was needed. The turnout was impressive and a kick-start for stronger trapping and snaring education in the southeastern part of the state.