Action You Can Take For Wyoming Wildlife Now - WYOMING WILDLIFE ADVOCATES

02Feb

HB 0275 AND HB 0331 WILL END TORTURE OF WILDLIFE ON PUBLIC LANDS IN WYOMING

LEGISLATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW

If you missed our webinar on Wednesday night, never fear, we have all the latest for you here! Read on to see how you can help by sending a message to your legislator and to the Wyoming House of Representatives. These bills are not perfect, but they are a HUGE step in the right direction in Wyoming. Without their passage, things will be status quo. There are still multiple opportunities for amendments to be introduced and voted for. The breakdown: HB 0275 Treatment of Animals The language of the bill is here. Sponsored by Rep. Andrew Byron from Teton and Lincoln counties, it is focused on animal cruelty. (It specifically exempts trappers from being held accountable for animal cruelty.) It makes a first offense for cruelty to animals a misdemeanor and a second offense a felony. While imperfect, this bill marks a sea change in Wyoming. Please, support. HB 0331 Taking of Predators on Public Lands The language of the bill is here. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Schmid of Sublette County. Would allow one to shoot or run over an animal with a vehicle on private land. On public land, it would not allow one to run over an animal with a vehicle, but one could shoot from a vehicle. We do not support the running over of any animal with a vehicle. Ask for this bill to prohibit vehicular killing on public AND PRIVATE LANDS. Please, support.

Actions to Take Right Now

Call and/or email your House member to vote yes on HB 0275
Ask Andrew Byron to bring HB 0331 to the TRW committee asap Andrew.Byron@wyoleg.gov
Email the entire Wyoming House of Representatives and ask them to vote yes on HB 0275

What HB 0275 will do:

Makes the first offense of cruelty to animals a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

A second or subsequent offense will be a felony.

Adds wildlife to the animal cruelty statutes.

Knowingly, and with intent to cause undue suffering, tortures, torments or mutilates any living wildlife, including predatory animals and predacious birds, after reducing the living wildlife to possession.

What HB 0275 will NOT do:

Outlaw the pursuit and running over or killing of predators by vehicles.
Make wildlife torture a felony on the first offense.

What HB 0331 will do:

Makes it illegal for people to pursue and run over wildlife with vehicles on public lands in Wyoming.

What HB 0331 will NOT do:

Make it illegal to pursue and run over wildlife with vehicles on private land in Wyoming

ADDITIONAL ASKS FOR HB 0331:

Ask the members of the TRW committee to bring forward and provide a hearing on HB 0331.
Thank Representative Mike Schmid for drafting this bill.
Ask members of the TRW committee – both Senate and to vote yes on this bill as written.

IF HB 0331 DOESN’T GET HEARD IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, IT WILL NOT BE VOTED UPON THIS SESSION!

WYOMINGITES AGREE: NO ANIMAL SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ENDURE TORTURE

A recent poll of sportspeople in Wyoming by the newly formed group, Wyoming Sportsmanship revealed that overwhelmingly, Wyoming residents don’t support running over an animal with a snowmobile or torturing wildlife.

Further, a poll conducted by the Humane Society of the U.S. found that 73% of residents don’t think it is ok to to use snowmobiles to pursue, strike, injure, and kill predators.