HOWL PACK WY WOLF UPDATE

HOWL Members and Supporters,

In April 2024, we learned of the terrible behavior and mistreatment of a live wolf in Wyoming.  As hunters, we love wildlife and we can simultaneously hold great respect and reverence for animals, while also recognizing the need to harvest and manage those same animals. The abhorrent treatment of a living but injured and captive wolf was not representative of hunting, conservation, ethical harvest, or purposeful wildlife management. 

HOWL for Wildlife recognized a need for a public statement condemning the actions we had learned about. HOWL also recognized the need to bring together like-minded hunters and organizations to offer support to Wyoming leaders who would be tasked with addressing this problem. In the last 3 months, the team at HOWL has met with Jess Johnson of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation to track the development of legislation which will more acutely identify, punish and deter the unethical behavior which was neither hunting, trapping, nor predator management.  We respect and support the leadership and diplomacy that Jess and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation have provided in the Wyoming legislatures' bipartisan “Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources” Committee. 

The collaborative support you provided when HOWL condemned unethical treatment of a wild animal was helpful and powerful. Your collaborative support, along with that of thousands of individuals and dozens of organizations in our community, sent a message of solidarity while also giving Wyoming leaders space to do their work on behalf of Wyoming citizens. 

In the next several weeks, you’ll hear from Jess Johnson of Wyoming Wildlife Federation via HOWLCAST and other popular hunting media channels. Most importantly, there is consensus among Wyoming leaders to prohibit, penalize and deter prolonged suffering of wildlife. When there is a time to amplify our support for the progress being made in WY, we will call upon you again to take action. It will be important for Wyoming’s leaders to know that hunters support the direction they are going, while continuing to value and promote hunting, trapping, conservation, and effective wildlife management. 

HOWL for Wildlife thanks you for your support on this issue and your alignment with our position. We look forward to updating you further as the legislation in Wyoming is drafted and ready for public support. This is one of many places where hunter voices and perspectives can lead conversations and define success. 

Sincerely,

HOWL for Wildlife 

PS: You can review HOWL’s Wyoming Wolf statement in the ACTION CENTER, along with the 70 organizations that have joined us in this statement.