Yes, Even Wildlife Rescues MUST Take Action

 

Excluding the jaundice/seizure deaths the number of cubs being reported dead this year is beyond what I would expect. This may be down to better reporting but the thing that has staggered me is that rescues tell me that they get dead cubs reported every year but don't submit them for post mortems.  

Fox Angels have submitted two Scottish cubs but a third was turned away today so was disposed of.

We have a fox population that is already in sharp decline and even the British Trust for Ornithology declared that it may be time to Red List foxes. What I am seeing nationally is far more losses of cubs than expected and some may be dying because their mothers were shot by 'fun' shooters who do not care so long as they kill something. Others may be dying from over burden of worms, verminous pneumonia (lung worm) or other causes.  What we are seeing in Bristol is far from normal. 

If a death is suspicious then the Animal Plant Health Advisory can carry out a post mortem at one of its centres. When I am being told that a cub looks healthy but it died and when I see photos showing the same then those cubs should  be submitted because it is far better to find a cause of death and possible disease early and be prepared.   

We know so little about foxes and where studies do take place it is for a specific reason. What we are doing in Bristol is looking at the dead foxes and from various angles such as disease, infection, etc., etc.  That should be standard across the country.

There is one rescue that goes out and collects dead foxes reported and...bury them on their property.  Others simply will not submit a dead fox "to be chopped up" and I try to explain but...  One recently had a jaundiced, seizure cub that they put into an incubator. I politely asked that if the cub did not make it to submit it for PM. They just are not talking.

What can we do? 

Rescues need to understand that unusual deaths of foxes in particular need to be investigated and I have seen one unusual case after another around the country and in every single case the fox was "put to rest" in a garden or on the grounds.  We are dealing with a crisis across the board with wildlife and foxes are a good indicator of environmental health and so far the indicator is pointing to the Red for Danger.

We all need to take responsibility and act responsibly.

The Story of One Wolf: V076

From the Voyageurs Wolf Project and the story of one she-wolf  that we know something about.  However there are many others and the one thing we learn is that it is a hard and often dangerous life without the human interference.

above Wolf V076 last winter. Her age was starting to show. (c)2024 Voyageurs Wolf Project

The breeding female of the Wiyapka Lake Pack was forcibly removed from her own pack last fall and has since wandered around as a lone wolf. What her future entails is unknown.

In late 2018, a pair of wolves ousted the Moose River Pack and took over the Moose River Pack territory. That pack was the Wiyapka Lake Pack.

In Spring 2019, the breeding female of this new pack, Wolf V076, had her first litter of pups. She remained the breeding female until late last year and gave birth to at least 21 pups (and likely more) in 5 different litters (a litter of pups each year since 2019) during her tenure.

Of those pups, 8 survived to adulthood.

But she was getting older and times they were a changing. During late summer of 2023, a new pair of wolves, one of which was a collared female originally from the Bluebird Lake Pack to the south, started trespassing into the Wiyapka Lake territory.

We thought this pair was taking over, or at least trying to take over the territory at that time (and was going to boot the Wiyapka wolves). But as fall turned into winter, it seemed evident that Wiyapka had staved off the invasion and this new pair settled down in a territory just south of the Wiyapka Lake Pack. 

above Wolf V076 and a pup in 2020. (c) 2024Voyageurs Wold Project

However, during that same period, another female wolf trespassed. And somehow, this new female ousted Wolf V076 and joined the pack. 

How that all played out is unknown but we have several videos from late fall and early winter of V076 by herself a good distance outside the pack’s territory, and then several videos of the Wiyapka Pack with the same breeding male and a different leading female.

This new female now leads the pack with V076’s former mate. Although this new female appeared to have usurped V076, she did continue to rear V076’s adolescent pups—2 of which were were alive as of late fall (we need to get through camera footage from winter to see if either or both survived). 

What will come of V076 now is unknown. She is likely 8 or so years old currently. She might yet find another pack to join, or she might remain a lone wolf for the rest of her life. 

However, the fact that she remained the breeding female of a pack for 5 years is better than most breeding animals—heck, most wolves don’t even make it to 5 years old.

Either way, the story of V076 is a good illustration of wolf pack dynamics and how packs can change quickly.

Bristol Green Party Almost As Uninterested As The Old Labour Council?

 

I find that with wildlife death mounting up all over the area leaves me far less happy with very slow or no responses from those in authority.

The following was sent to Councillor Carla Denyer head of the Green party which is now in cntrol of Bristol City Council. Attached were copies of the 2023 and 2024 Fox and VBadger Death Registers:

Hello.

I submitted this to the former Mayor on three occasions but only just before the council elections did he respond to say "nothing we can do". My family going back to my grandparents voted Labour all of their lives as have I but along with a lot of other voters who were concerned about Labour's relentless disregard for the environment and wildlife issues decided that a Green vote would be the only choice. We are all hoping, whether people campaigning to save the Western Slopes or other green areas, or involved in wildlife work that the Green Party will step up and meet the challenges and stand with the people of Bristol to make the City a true example of environment and habitat protection.

For your convenience please find attached the Bristol Fox Deaths Register for 2023 as well as the Badger Deaths Register for 2023 maintained by the British Fox and Canid Study (f 1976) and the Bristol Badger Group (f 1994). In summary, for 2023 (and only animals given a location that could be found) some -I should point out that the total number of fox deaths listed herein are not all that died in 2023.

The total number of foxes killed on Bristol roads in 2023 was 257 and these include cubs, pregnant vixens and dog foxes.

The total known number of badgers killed in Bristol for 2023 was 53.

Our work now includes recording deaths of otters which totalled around 6 for 2023.

We do not keep a record of deer and other mammals/birds killed on Bristol roads but the number is high.

We know that for 2024 the total fox deaths up to 7th May stand at 83 and one of these was a heavily pregnant vixen. We have also just recorded the first otter death of 2024 at Lawrence Weston. Badger deaths up to 7th May stands at 36 and these include lactating sows meaning that cubs likely also died. Again, I will attach copies for your convenience.

One black spot for wild life deaths is the Hick's Gate stretch of road -deer, badgers, foxes etc. Saturday 27th January saw four fox deaths on this stretch of road.

For otter deaths we know that the major black spot is the Hartcliffe Way which sees the highest death rate. Looking through the registers you will note that certain areas always crop up and Downend is a particular black spot for foxes and badgers.

I am aware that it will cost, financially, but I would like Bristol City Council to consider the possibility of wildlife underpasses being installed in the main hot spots -Hick's Gate and Hartcliffe Way as the rate of wildlife death on these stretches is so high and otters and badgers are protected species. Perhaps "Wildlife Crossing" signs to alert drivers might also help.

We are currently looking at environmental crises and concentrating on wildlife areas but we are not looking at the animals themselves and how the impact of their deaths are affecting the environment -foxes as hunters are not wholly carnivorous but will catch and eat large numbers of rats and mice and in some cities around the world they are seen as far more effective than rodenticides(as are feral cats). If the numbers of foxes and badgers continue to drop then we will be seeing them, in the City, as rare and they took a long time to recover after 94% died off in the 1994/1995 mange outbreak.

So, please, give the idea of some type of underpass or overpass for wildlife serious consideration as in many parts of the world they have been adopted as essential.

I look forward to your responses when convenient.

Regards

Terry Hooper-Scharf

I have made a couple of attempts of contacting someone at the Green Party but that seems almost impossible by phone. It's far better to give all of the facts in writing and documents for a decision to be made.

Sadly, many of us who decided the mess of a Labour council had to go and so we switched our vote to the Greens. People have tried to raise several issues with the Greens but all note a very obvious absence of any representatives. I will not post the pithy comments made. As a second email seemed in order I again emailed Cllr Denyer attaching the first message:

"Hello. As I have not had a preliminary response to the email of 8th May I wondered whether there was someone appointed at the council who can handle the matters raised? Since writing the number of fox deaths in Bristol has risen to 100 and badger deaths stand at 37. This excludes deer and other animals (such as deer) killed in and around Bristol roads. At6 the very minimum some consideration should be given to "Warning Wildlife Crossing" notices on the main wildlife death spots. Some serious consideration needs to be given wildlife crossings whether over or under roads as at the current rate we are losing wildlife at an alarming rate and I would consider a new Green controlled council far better suited to handling this issue than the previous Labour controlled council."

Having at one time been a big supporter of the Green Party in Germany, perhaps I am expecting too much from a British Green Party? People are not even reporting deer they hit with their cars and we seriously need to take some action because wildlife killed by cars is getting out of hand.

Fox Cub Deaths

 

video (c)2024 Sarah Mills/Bristol Fox Lady

 We are currently looking at some unusual fox cub deaths. In the last few weeks we have had four cases of 8-10 weeks old cubs found having seizures. One or two you put down to "natural" but when you get 3-4 you need to wake up and see what is going on.

Today Sarah Mills, the Bristol Fox Lady, responded to a call of a cub seen fitting not far from where she lives. On arriving at the scene the cub did fit and once again on getting to the vet.  Again an 8-10 weeks old cub.

On arriving at the vet it was found that nystagmus was present, a stiff body and minimal jaundice. On this occasion the vet suggested that we submit. 

As it is important that the average person understands the terms use (otherwise it is all gobbledegook); Nystagmus in dogs refers to the flickering or twitching of the eyes. In most cases, flickering eye movements are entirely normal. But they can become concerning if the movements happen when your dog's head is still. The primary cause of nystagmus is vestibular disease, which is a disturbance in the pet's body balance.

The vet suggested we submit this cub as the only thing he could suggest was distemper which is worrying enough. The signs of distemper include: Discharge from the eyes and nose. Fever. Coughing. Lethargy. Reduced appetite. Vomiting and Diarrhea. For this reason we are submitting the cub for post mortem examination, however. I am not calling it distemper or anything else until we have a PM report and test results and for a good reason.

 Neither parvovirus nor distemper have ever been conclusively recorded in UK foxes, and I must also point out that there is virtually no possibility of serious health problems arising from the presence of foxes.

It could be a false alarm and we have had vets wrong in the past and I suspect that this is why the vet involved suggested submitting for post mortem.  It will take a while to get tests, etc. but we are keeping an eye open.  I know people from rescues do read this blog and I will also be contacting them in the next day or so but if they have similar cases and the cub dies or is put to sleep PLEASE submit it to the Animal Plant Health Advisory who can point you to the nearest PM centre. Every scrap of knowledge help0s.

The Fox Deaths Project Update

  Sarah Mills, the Bristol Fox Lady, today responded to a fox reported to be having seizures in the BS13 area. The fox was taken to a vet and sadly put to sleep.  The fox had jaundice as well as blood around the anal area.

Above: FP 13 05 24 003 fox photo (c)2024 Sarah Mills/Bristol Fox Lady

On the 5th May we had a similar jaundiced fox.  Both of these will be submitted for post mortem examination as part of the Bristol Fox Deaths Project.

above FP 05 05 24 001 Fox photo (c)2024 Sarah Mills/Bristol Fox Lady

I would like to thank the pathologist as well as the Wildlife Network for Disease Surveillance as well as the Animal Plant Health Advisory and Bristol University Post Mortem Services  for continued support in getting to the bottom of what diseases, viruses etc are affecting the fox population in Bristol which would likely reflect what is going on around the UK.

Bristol is probably more well known for its foxes than London and certainly a lot of research has been carried out here -sadly with no interest from Bristol University (other than post mortem services) and outright obstruction from the formerly Labour controlled City Council. Nowhere else in the UK is carrying out this work and recording of reported fox and badger deaths is now improving and showing where wildlife (otters, deer, foxes and badgers) are most at risk and where safeguards need to be put in place.

Sadly, even what was described as "a very large" deer was struck by a car over the weekend and the driver did not report the incident so that the deer could be checked. Our only hope is that the collision cost the person a lot of money in car repair work (the deer was that big). In some countries not reporting hitting wildlife is a crime.  If that was the case in the UK then fines alone from prosecutions could reach over a million and with road cameras these incidents must be seen.

With the fox and badger work we hope to inform rescues and vets of the health issues for foxes (due to Health and Safety Executive rules badgers are not permitted to be submitted for post mortems).

Wildlife Deaths and the Need to Take Positive Action. Email to The Green Party

 

 My policy has always been to make no secret of correspondence that involves wildlife issues. These are all open and show what is being discussed and decided (if ever).

This email along with copies of the 2023 and 2024 Bristol Fox and Badger Death Registers was sent to head of bthe Green Party and Councillor for Clifton Councillor Carla Denyer on the 8th May, 2024.  Note that since this email went out the number of dead badgers and foxes have increased:

Hello.

I submitted this to the former Mayor on three occasions but only just before the council elections did he respond to say "nothing we can do". My family going back to my grandparents voted Labour all of their lives as have I but along with a lot of other voters who were concerned about Labour's relentless disregard for the environment and wildlife issues decided that a Green vote would be the only choice. We are all hoping, whether people campaigning to save the Western Slopes or other green areas, or involved in wildlife work that the Green Party will step up and meet the challenges and stand with the people of Bristol to make the City a true example of environment and habitat protection.

For your convenience please find attached the Bristol Fox Deaths Register for 2023 as well as the Badger Deaths Register for 2023 maintained by the British Fox and Canid Study (f 1976) and the Bristol Badger Group (f 1994). In summary, for 2023 (and only animals given a location that could be found) some -I should point out that the total number of fox deaths listed herein are not all that died in 2023.

The total number of foxes killed on Bristol roads in 2023 was 257 and these include cubs, pregnant vixens and dog foxes.

The total known number of badgers killed in Bristol for 2023 was 53.

Our work now includes recording deaths of otters which totalled around 6 for 2023.

We do not keep a record of deer and other mammals/birds killed on Bristol roads but the number is high.

We know that for 2024 the total fox deaths up to 7th May stand at 83 and one of these was a heavily pregnant vixen. We have also just recorded the first otter death of 2024 at Lawrence Weston. Badger deaths up to 7th May stands at 36 and these include lactating sows meaning that cubs likely also died. Again, I will attach copies for your convenience.

One black spot for wild life deaths is the Hick's Gate stretch of road -deer, badgers, foxes etc. Saturday 27th January saw four fox deaths on this stretch of road.

For otter deaths we know that the major black spot is the Hartcliffe Way which sees the highest death rate. Looking through the registers you will note that certain areas always crop up and Downend is a particular black spot for foxes and badgers.

I am aware that it will cost, financially, but I would like Bristol City Council to consider the possibility of wildlife underpasses being installed in the main hot spots -Hick's Gate and Hartcliffe Way as the rate of wildlife death on these stretches is so high and otters and badgers are protected species. Perhaps "Wildlife Crossing" signs to alert drivers might also help.

We are currently looking at environmental crises and concentrating on wildlife areas but we are not looking at the animals themselves and how the impact of their deaths are affecting the environment -foxes as hunters are not wholly carnivorous but will catch and eat large numbers of rats and mice and in some cities around the world they are seen as far more effective than rodenticides(as are feral cats). If the numbers of foxes and badgers continue to drop then we will be seeing them, in the City, as rare and they took a long time to recover after 94% died off in the 1994/1995 mange outbreak.

So, please, give the idea of some type of underpass or overpass for wildlife serious consideration as in many parts of the world they have been adopted as essential.

I look forward to your responses when convenient.

Regards

Terry Hooper-Scharf

 

 

The Extirpation of Wild Cats and Introduction of New Wild Cats To Britain

 

Pages  15

Binding  Saddle Stitch

Interior Color    Color

Dimensions   A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm)

£10.00

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/the-extirpation-of-wild-cats-and-introduction-of-new-wild-cats-to-britain/paperback/product-2mvqp56.html?page=1&pageSize=4

This book details the history of British wild cats including the Scottish wild cat which was announced in 1897 by distinguished naturalists and expert on the wild cat as having become extinct circa the 1860s. The subject of how hybridisation with feral domestics kept the species alive for hundreds of years and facts from historical records throw aside the dogma taught since the early 1900s.

Our Cats and All About Them Wild Cat Study Research Reference Paper

 

Pages

12

Binding

Saddle Stitch

Interior Color

Black & White

Dimensions

A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm)

£8.00

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/our-cats-and-all-about-them/paperback/product-kv8ezkr.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Harrison Weir wrote his book, Our Cats and All About Them, in 1892 with it being published in 1889. Weir was a “cat person” and well known as an expert in cats and this is shown in the books sub-header: “Their Varieties, Habits, and Management; and for Show, the Standard of Excellence and Beauty”. With such an interest pet/show cats Weir obviously looked at the wild variety and it is his section of wild cats that is the subject of this paper and unlike many of the reprinted versions of the book in modern times this paper includes the illustrations.

NO. Never Ever Conclude "Poison" Without Evidence

 

For most vets "likely poisoned" is a "I have no idea" response. I think it is seven vets in Bristol who told people that a fox taken to them was "likely poisoned" and that is completely out of order. You TEST for poisons and then state it as fact.  Only one of over 60 foxes submitted to the Bristol study had secondary poisoning after eating a poisoned rat.

Today I see this from  Second Chance Fox Rescue:

"Had a call from Debra L Jessie this morning to say a man in southsea had got a little fox cub that he found close by an was concerned.

"So I went over and assessed the little one. Poor thing was not standing or running from me, very weak. I also witnessed him have a seizure blood was coming from his behind, …. On route to the vets he also had an another seizure. The vets assesses little one and he was not in a good place. Hi possibility of poisoning ..

"The kindest thing was to PTS. RIP little Joe"

I had to respond to this as claims of fox poisoning tend to get out of control and lead to a lot of local tension:

"There are a number of reasons why a cub/adult can have seizures as well as the blood noted. Poisoning has not been involved in any of the cases we have had post mortem examinations on.

"After almost 50 years on foxes I understand the concern but we had 6 vets at different practices declare "poisoned" and on testing they had no poison in them. We have to be very careful about claiming poison is a cause as it creates a very bad situation.

"I would suggest the cub had internal problems and may well have been hit by a car BUT that is a guess.

"Will the cub go for PM?"

The one thing you must never do is jump to a major conclusion with absolutely no scientific back-up and that is a strict rule I always have. I hope the cub is submitted for post mortem examination but to date I have found only one rescue doing that.

Which will Go Extinct First -Foxes or Badgers?

 

Based on past history along with what people are saying privately and the playing around with facts by DEFRA (someone there apparently does not like me) my own assessment is that it is far more likely that 80% of the badger population has been killed off. 

 Remember that DEFRA is pushing ahead with expanding the cull into areas with no bovine TB history and it is their stated policy to wipe out large areas of badgers.... badgers that are so few in number that they cannot find enough to kill.  Stated fact.

If the unscientific cull was stopped tomorrow, bearing in mind the number of badgers killed on the roads each year and "illegal" killings on private e4states and farms where "badger men" are still employed, then it would probably take30+ years for the population to get back to anywhere near pre-cull numbers if we are lucky.  

A species that survived centuries of melecide and finally got protection in the 1970s is now legally being eradicated -wiped out- for politically corrupt reasons.  

In 80-90 years a "reintroduction" of badgers will make no difference because the original population was slaughtered into extinction.  And foxes will accompany them into extinction Forever

It May All Fail Through Indifference

Back on the 9th March, 2024 I posted an item titled Naturalists Are A Dying Breed you can find that here

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/03/naturalists-are-dying-breed.html

The post including what we call a "hook line"; something that will get a reaction or should get a reaction: " I think I can guess the responses to this and yet I cannot believe that I am the only field naturalist left in Bristol! "  

And it took a week or so but I got a rather petulant reaction and I had said to someone that I guaranteed the main reaction would be petulant..  How dare I call myself the only naturalist in Bristol blah blah blah. So I responded saying that now that had been said what did the person have in mind re. getting volunteers and carrying on the fox death ans badger deaths projects?  Now, I had stated clearly that I set up the Bristol Badger Group in 1994 and so the suggestion was that I get the Somerset Badger Group to help. 

That was it. Big petulant response and "I have absolutely nothing" so why even respond. I would tell you about all the other responses but... there were none. Thousands of members of groups and nothing.

Today there were four dead badgers reported and they were not reported privately but on open public groups. Sarah Mills and a friend checked one...it was gone.  Then Sarah went to check on another -gone. Apparently a third vanished. How?  Well, the answer is simple since the City Council works Monday to Friday and being a bank holiday -nothing.Earliest collection would be Tuesday. It is a fact, I have even been told by some and had two admit that they grabbed foxes that were reported to me on Face Book groups as possible wildlife crime evidence (poisoning).

Taxidermists.  A headless fox found on a city street was not bitten off but neatly cut off. This I was told by a taxidermist was likely by one of his compatriots. I was told if the body of a road kill fox is too messy then the head is still worth working on and selling "Usually we'll pop the body in a bin" he told me.  Two foxes suspected of being poisoned were placed on a wall for someone to collect. It was made clear on the group where they were reported that these were suspected poisonings and so possible wildlife crime and to be submitted for post mortem examination. The person who went to collect them found the foxes gone and the woman who reported them noted that a man in a car pulled up and put both in a bag then in his car and drove off "He never even knocked as I was told he would". Nothing to do with me and the man was later identified as a taxidermist.

Snatching dead foxes and badgers for your little business is well and good but these people do not check whether the fox is a vixen or badger a sow and whether they are lactating meaning that orphaned cubs need to be checked for. There is no interest in wildlife on their part and they do not care whether they grab evidence in poisoning cases or not.

Of course, taxidermists are not interested in volunteering in picking up and transporting dead otters or foxes for PM examination.

As it happens it is likely that we will struggle to collect any such dead animals. Today a approx 10 week old fox collapsed and died and his body was green; very jaundiced and Sarah Mills contacted me and we have the fox ready for submission and testing. 

Above the jaundiced fox cub photo (c)2024 Sarah Mills

I have seen jaundice but the entire eye was green and the cub itself looked in good bodily condition.  Other foxes we have lost.  

Pretty flowers, butterflies, birds are only part of nature and I still cannot understand why "naturalists" in Bristol are not interested in badgers (alive or dead) and foxes other than rare photo opportunities.  The Fox Death Project is discovering things and the only project of its type in the UK but no one wants to be part of that.

I am currently having to re-evaluate what will happen in 2024 but so far it looks bleak. Fighting bureaucracy to get the post mortems carried out and all the side issues and problems and it may all fail through indifference.

"Is It A Dead Puma?!" Well.....

  The following is an example as to how and why people report dead big cats in the British countryside. Let me start out by stating that I know, after decades, that we do have large cats in the UK and I was a UK police forces exotic wildlife consultant from 1977 0n. I have seen the evidence and people beyond reproach have also seen dead large cats.  Therefore I am not dismissing the subject but pointing out why we must check every detail especially in an age where every pet cat seen crossing a road or field gets photographed or video recorded as a "big cat".

On the 3rd April, 2024, I was contacted and sent this image. I was asked "what is it -it's big!" I took notice because it looks like a dead puma and on an area on the outskirts of Bristol.  Look at that head and the huge jaws not to mention the long muscular legs.

photo (c) 2024 British Fox and Canid Study

At the same time a little voice said "Hang on. Look at the surroundings" I did. And I went straight to the Dead Foxes File and I found the images I needed. The images below were sent to me in February, 2024 and it is the exact same spot and reported by two people -even the position it is lying in is the same.

Photo (c)2024 British Fox and Canid Study

The animal had obviously been in the water a while but it was obvious what it was when reported.

photo (c)2024 British Fox and Canid Study

Perhaps a close up might help?

photo (c)2024 British Fox and Canid Study

The ears give it away.  This was a fox and after a month I had expected it to have been either removed or decayed/predated on. It was a surprise to see how the decomposition had developed and why people when they saw the April image thought it was large animal and one even asked "You've finally got one (puma) to go on the slab?"  I so hated to disappoint.

But this shows why people need to observe not just live animals but also dead ones. It is grim but a periodic check will tell you a lot and that knowledge is then in your head for good.  I have no doubt the first image will be pinched by someone and appear on the internet as a "dead  mystery beast".  Sad that the fox died but even though it was initially too far gone for a post mortem the fact that someone saw it a month later and sent me the photos meant that I learnt from this.

This should make every single human angry!!

From Project Coyote and this really shows what goes on.

 

Cody Roberts, a #Wyoming resident who captured, tortured, and killed a yearling wolf, has received substantial payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars through trucking contracts with agencies such as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Records from Wyoming’s financial transparency platform, WyOpen.gov, reveal that between 2020 and 2024, Roberts’ trucking company provided services to the Game and Fish Department on at least 12 occasions. Roberts also undertook work for the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The contracts with wildlife authorities have drawn understandable scrutiny. During this period, Roberts earned more than $43,000 from the Game and Fish Department (@wygameandfish).

Agency spokeswoman Breanna Ball confirmed to Cowboy State Daily the active contract with C Roberts Trucking LLC. However, Ball remained non-committal regarding the possibility of future contracts with Roberts, stating that decisions were yet to be determined.

The existing association between Roberts and the game agency raises concerns and questions about whether this relationship influenced the leniency shown toward Roberts, who was fined a mere $250 for his barbaric acts against the young wolf. This brings into question the thoroughness of the agency’s due diligence. How well acquainted were the wardens with Roberts, given his evident business ties with the department?

As we’ve previously shared, wildlife agencies have been captured by undemocratic and dangerous worldviews that don’t represent public values and interests. Instead, they cater to narrow special interest groups, i.e., animal agriculture and hunting—often with specific interests in killing wild carnivores, allowing people like Cody Roberts to inflict untold suffering upon sentient, family-oriented animals.

Wyoming Wolf Action Hub: https://tinyurl.com/49w6rztj