In the wake of a shocking 2024 incident that drew worldwide condemnation, a bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has reintroduced legislation to outlaw the practice of using snowmobiles or other motor vehicles to intentionally chase, harass, injure, or kill wolves and other predators on federal public lands.
The Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons Act (SAW Act) was introduced on Thursday by lead sponsor Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Oregon), with cosponsors including Reps. Mike Lawler (R-New York), Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania). The bill targets a sneaky loophole in federal protections, prohibiting the use of ground-based motor vehicles as weapons against wildlife on lands managed by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. It applies nationwide but, at this point, does not extend to state-owned lands or private property.
The legislation stems directly from a February 2024 event in Daniel, Wyoming, involving local resident Cody Roberts. As many of you will remember, Roberts allegedly used a snowmobile to run down an adolescent female wolf, captured the severely injured animal, duct-taped its muzzle, and paraded it in the Green River Bar before shooting it out back. The incident, captured on video and shared online, sparked international backlash, with critics labeling it as recreational cruelty rather than legitimate hunting.
Roberts faced a $250 fine from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for illegal possession of live wildlife but no initial felony charges. That is, until August of this year when a grand jury indicted him on felony animal cruelty, to which he later pleaded not guilty earlier this fall. His trial is scheduled for March 2026.
Animal welfare advocates argue that snowmobile "whacking" violates fair-chase principles and is not a traditional form of hunting. Many have called the practice "recreational wildlife abuse" and noted broad opposition across political lines.
Similar bans already exist in states like Oregon, Colorado, and Minnesota. In Wyoming, a state-level ban proposed by Rep. Mike Schmid (R-La Barge) failed in the 2025 legislative session, with plans to reintroduce it in 2026.
The SAW Act follows a failed 2024 version (H.R. 9568 in the 118th Congress) but supporters hope the new bipartisan backing will improve its chances.
The bill's introduction coincided with House debate on H.R. 845, a separate measure to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states. Sponsored by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), that bill passed the House earlier this month but still faces uncertainty in the Senate.
As of December 22, 2025, the SAW Act remains newly introduced and awaits committee action. Its fate could hinge on broader wolf management debates in the 119th Congress.
