Wyoming lawmaker renews bid to ban snowmobile harassment of wildlife

Rep. Mike Schmid, R-La Barge, filed House Bill 153, titled "Taking of predators on public lands," proposing to add a new clause to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s governing statutes that would prohibit "recreationally running over wildlife with snowmobiles" on public land. The filing was reported as having been made on a Wednesday in the lead-up to the Legislature’s budget session.

Schmid’s renewed effort follows two failed attempts during the 2025 legislative session, when he "twice worked to advance measures that would prohibit chasing and striking predatory species like red foxes and coyotes with snowmachines." Those 2025 measures were "opposed by some members of the livestock industry who say the tactic is needed to reduce conflict, and the lawmakers voted them down," and Schmid later "tried and failed to get a legislative committee to study a proposed ban and sponsor a bill."

The filing comes after an incident in Sublette County involving Daniel resident Cody Roberts, a case that put the practice in the spotlight. Reports say "Daniel resident Cody Roberts, who soon faces trial, acquired the wolf that led to a felony animal cruelty charge by allegedly running it over with a snowmobile before taking it to a local bar." The incident is cited repeatedly by supporters of tighter rules as an example of the conduct HB 153 targets.

Proponents of the bill frame HB 153 as a statutory fix to stop behavior that many say is already visible online and regional in practice. Sources describe the tactic as "legal and commonplace in the corner of western Wyoming where he lives," and note that "videos that show people running down wildlife while riding snowmobiles can be found online with relative ease." Earlier bills specifically named predatory targets such as "red foxes and coyotes," and some versions described ending recreational chasing of "foxes, coyotes, wolves and other animals on public land."

Public reaction has been vocal in online forums. A post by the Wolf Conservation Center noted that "Representative Mike Schmid is continuing the fight to ban recreationally running over wildlife with snowmobiles on public land, which is currently legal and common in the corner of western Wyoming," and reposted the bill title and summary. That post showed "All reactions: 482" and drew comments including "Punishment for evil people," Lucretia Armstrong’s "I agree but that will take longer then rounding up the wild to protect them," Pat Collins’s "Three times given the opportunity to display they have a basic fundamental understanding of being Not Potential Serial Killers in Waiting and three times a swing and a miss. Cool state," Judith A Baxter’s "Good for Rep Schmid Disappointing that it takes a legislative fight to ban an obviously cruel animal abuse practice running wildlife down with snowmobiles Doea not say much abouf the character of the State if Wyoming," and Stuffed Crust’s "This is just sick. This is also why psychological testing is highly needed for all."

HB 153, as filed, proposes "adding a new clause to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s governing statutes." Lawmakers, Wyoming Game and Fish officials and livestock representatives have not provided further details in the material reviewed here; the bill’s text and any scheduled committee action will determine how enforcement and statutory language would change.