Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Friday, August 22nd. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Converse County Tourism Promotion Board! Discover Douglas and Glenrock in beautiful Wyoming, where rich history, outdoor adventure, and welcoming communities await. Feel the Energy of Converse County at www.ConverseCountyTourism.com.

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In February of 2024, Cody Roberts ran over a wolf with a snowmobile, brought it muzzled into a bar, then shot it, setting off a firestorm of outrage across the globe. Although Roberts paid $250 last March toward a citation for violating Wyoming Game and Fish regulations against possessing wildlife, nearly 18 months later, a grand jury on Wednesday called for Roberts' indictment on a charge of felony cruelty to animals.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that to secure a conviction in this case, the top prosecutor in Sublette County will have to walk a tightrope of legal provisions and exceptions.

"Really tricky because there's a felony cruelty to animal statute from 2024 that he can use that was in place at the time of the alleged torment, but it has an exception for lawful taking of wildlife. He can't point to Robert's earlier citation for unlawfully possessing wildlife, because that actually doesn't cover wolves… So then he has to look at the four verbs within that exception and see whether what Roberts allegedly did is covered under a verb that's not within the exception."

Read the full story HERE.

There's also concern that the case might open the door to animal cruelty allegations being brought against hunters or ranchers protecting their livestock from predators. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz spoke to experts on both sides of that question.

"There is some concern that applying a felony cruelty to animal charges in a wildlife case could spill over and have some negative effects on hunting or agriculture, like, you know, a rancher goes to shoot a coyote that's killing his sheep and makes, you know, not the best shot and hits a coyote in the leg, is he now going to face cruelty to animal charges? I've heard other people saying, Nah, it applies properly to this case, but there's no real chance that it's going to spill over into other incidents and be misapplied to other cases. But that debate is out there."

In its 2025 legislative session, the state Legislature passed a law criminalizing cruelty to wildlife. But prior to that, the state did have a felony animal cruelty law on the books, which was routinely charged in cases involving domestic animals.

Read the full story HERE.

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As of Thursday, the Red Canyon Fire, the largest active wildfire in Wyoming, has burned nearly 127,000 acres in the southeastern corner of the Bighorn Basin and is 31% contained.

Ranchers in the path of the huge fire are watching helplessly as their winter forage burns up. Cowboy State Daily's Jackie Dorothy spoke to several families who are now having to make heartbreaking decisions, like selling