The family of a hunter who tortured a wolf and paraded it around his local bar before shooting it dead have released a bizarre recreation of the scene.
Cody Roberts, 42, was cited and fined for being in possession of the live wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, on Feb. 29, but it was not illegal to kill it.
Roberts posed with the exhausted animal, flashing a radiant smile as he grabbed it by the neck and lifted a can of beer.
The wolf, which was injured when Roberts ran over it with a snowmobile, had its mouth taped shut and cowered like an abused puppy.
Cody Roberts, 42, posed with the exhausted animal, flashing a radiant smile as he grabbed it by the neck and lifted a can of beer.
Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, a close relative of Roberts who lives in Daniel, recreated the bizarre scene wearing a wolf skin in the same bar, even covering her mouth with duct tape.
Witnesses said that shortly after this photo was taken, Roberts dragged or carried the animal around the Green River bar while patrons drank beer.
He then took the wolf behind the bar, allegedly tortured it, and then shot it to death.
Jeanne Ivie-Roberts, a close relative of Roberts who lives in Daniel, recreated the strange scene with a wolf skin in the same bar.
She posted photos on Facebook of herself with her mouth taped shut, like the wolf, while holding the skin in front of her.
Ivie-Roberts wrote in another post after Roberts’ antis went viral: “I love and support you, Cody.”
She also welcomed the news that animal cruelty laws did not apply to Roberts’ case and another family member claimed they were receiving death threats.
Ivie-Roberts wrote in another post after Roberts’ antis went viral: “I love and support you, Cody.”
Animal rights activists reacted with fury and became even angrier when it was confirmed that Roberts would only face a small fine.
‘Roberts’ actions clearly warrant a harsher punishment than the $250 fine he received for possession of live wildlife, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy wrote in a letter to officials.
“Some will view such an anemic response from law enforcement as tacit approval of their crime and may only motivate other like-minded people, driven by hatred of wolves, to engage in similar, repugnant behavior.”
Roberts, who is a father and trucking company owner, first met the wolf when he ran over it with a snowmobile, disabling it.
But instead of killing the animal on the spot, he kept it, took it home, and took it to the bar.
It is legal to kill wolves in the Sublette County portion, 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 him.
However, Sublette County Circuit Court records showed Roberts was cited for a wildlife violation in a Feb. 29 incident.
Witnesses said that shortly after this photo was taken, Roberts dragged or carried the animal around the Green River Bar while patrons drank beer.
Roberts, 42, of Daniel, Wyoming, was cited and fined for being in possession of a live wolf during an incident on February 29. Here he appears with a dead animal that he presumably hunted.
According to public records, Roberts has a hunting and fishing license.
Roberts did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Adam Hymas, the responding officer, was also contacted but DailyMail.com did not receive a response at the time of publication.
“An anonymous tipster notified the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that an individual was allegedly in possession of a live wolf,” Game and Fish said.
‘The complainant notified the Department on March 1, 2024. According to the investigation, the individual possessed the live wolf on 02/29/24.
‘The individual was hunting when he encountered the wolf in the predator zone and intended to hunt it.
‘However, the wolf was transported alive back to his residence and then to a business in Daniel, Wyoming.
This 42-year-old father and owner of a transportation company ran over the wolf with a snowmobile and disabled it, but instead of killing it on the spot, he kept it, took it home, and then took it to the bar
According to Roberts’ social media accounts, he appears to be an avid hunter who frequently hunts wild animals along with his children (pictured).
About 85 percent of Wyoming is a wolf “predatory zone,” meaning wild animals can be killed at any time with no bag limits or hunting days required.
‘The individual sacrificed the wolf that same day. The individual was cited for violating Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife.
Roberts paid a $250 fine, records show.
About 85 percent of Wyoming is a wolf “predatory zone,” meaning wild animals can be killed at any time with no bag limits or hunting days required.
Areas of Wyoming near national parks are considered a “trophy hunting area,” meaning that wolves are a “trophy species” that can be hunted, but only by tagged hunters during designated seasons and within predetermined quotas.
Within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, wolves are under full federal protection and are not permitted to be hunted.