Man Faces Prison After Running Over Yellowstone Wolf

We talk plenty about wolves in Montana. Hunters will tell you the return of wolves has been a disaster for elk herds, and ranchers will tell you their livestock has paid the price. But make no mistake, no matter which side of the wolf divide you stand, what happened here was not population control. It was animal cruelty.

Read More: Innovative Ways Ranchers Are Protecting Cattle From Wolves

A Wyoming man figured it would be cool to chase a wolf down with his snowmobile outside Yellowstone National Park. Then, proceed to tape its mouth shut, drag it into a bar, and shoot it in front of a horrified pack of barflies. For that stunt, he was initially fined $250. (I mean, C'MON! I had to pay a $300 ticket for talking on my phone while driving, not parading a wounded animal around inside a bar.)

Cruelty Isn’t Hunting

Montana law allows wolf hunting. That is part of predator population control and is an ethical way to support wildlife conservation. Whether you agree with it or not, it’s regulated. Even the legal act of trapping wolves is more humane than what this guy did. Running down a wolf with a snowmobile is not sport, it’s not management, and it sure isn’t tradition. It’s, by definition, animal cruelty.

Finally, A Real Penalty

The case has been reopened, and the man has now been hit with a possible jail term and a fine of up to $5,000. Perhaps that’s the sort of punishment that will give him some food for thought the next time he feels like pulling a stunt. At the very least, it might stop him from buying another fancy sled to play demolition derby with wildlife.

Wolves Are a Problem, But…

Montanans understand wolves are not easy to live with. They compete with hunters, prey on livestock, and are difficult to control. But it’s one thing to contend with wolves. It’s another thing to abuse them for fun. And if it takes jail time to draw that line, then so be it.