Heartbreaking video shows wolf’s final moments cowering before it was dragged out & shot by hunter who taped mouth shut
A HEARTBREAKING video has revealed a wolf’s final moments before being shot dead and paraded by a cruel hunter.
The helpless animal could be seen cowering with sunken eyes and a muzzle on its face.
Wyoming hunter Cody Roberts had ran the creature over with a snowmobile and held it captive.
The 42-year-old then reportedly paraded the wolf around the Green River Bar as regulars swilled beer before taking it behind the bar, torturing it and killing it.
The heartless hunter was fined $250 (£198) for being in possession of the live wolf but it was not illegal to kill it, sparking outrage from animal rights activists.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which issued the fine, shared two troubling clips Wednesday evening.
In both, a weary and pitiful-looking wolf can be seen lying on the floor in a location the agency has not yet disclosed.
The first image shows the animal with a muzzle on its face, seeming exhausted and sad.
The wolf’s face is not totally visible in the second image, but it can be seen slowly moving its eyes and one of its rear legs.
Roberts had previously posed with the traumatised animal, flashing a toothy grin while hooking his arm around its neck and raising a can of beer.
Instead of a muzzle, the wolf’s mouth could be seen tightly sealed with duct tape as it cowered next to the seemingly proud hunter.
Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, a family member of Roberts, re-enacted the disturbing 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’ picture 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.
Animals rights activists were up in arms and became even more furious when it was confirmed Roberts would only face a small fine.
The Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy wrote a letter to officials.
It stated that 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.
It added: “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 behaviour.”
Roberts, who is a dad and owns a trucking company, first encountered the wolf when he ran it down with a snowmobile and disabled it.
But, instead of putting the animal out of its misery he allegedly prolonged its suffering by taking 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.
But Sublette County Circuit Court records showed Roberts was cited for a wildlife violation from an incident on February 29.
According to public records, Roberts has a hunting and fishing license.
Gray wolves
GRAY wolves, scientifically known as Canis lupus, are highly intelligent and social animals known for their complex pack structures and efficient hunting techniques.
They are apex predators and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems they inhabit.
Gray wolves typically live and hunt in packs, led by an alpha pair, and communicate through vocalisations, body language, and scent marking.
Their range once extended across much of North America, Europe, and Asia, but habitat loss and hunting have significantly reduced their numbers in some areas.
Conservation efforts have helped stabilise populations in some regions, but they continue to face threats such as habitat destruction, conflicts with humans, and disease.
Are gray wolves dangerous?
Gray wolves are wild animals and should be treated with caution and respect, especially in their natural habitat.
While they generally avoid contact with humans, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened, cornered, or if their territory is encroached upon.
Instances of attacks on humans are rare, but they can occur, particularly in areas where human development has encroached on wolf habitat or where wolves have become habituated to human presence.
Are they common in Wyoming, USA?
Yes, gray wolves are present in Wyoming. They were historically abundant throughout the state and played a significant role in the ecosystem.
However, like in many other parts of their range, their populations were greatly reduced due to hunting, habitat loss, and predator control programs.
In recent years, efforts to reintroduce and recover gray wolf populations have been underway in parts of Wyoming, particularly in and around Yellowstone National Park.