Wyoming
Wyoming sinks another $4.8M into predator killing as demand, costs keep growing
by Mike Koshmrl, WyoFile
CASPER—Sparse snow cover made killing predators more challenging and “dynamic” this past winter in Fremont County, Rob Crofts recalled.
Even if tracking and spotting wildlife was trickier, contracted trappers and hunters incentivized by a bounty program still managed to kill roughly 1,000 coyotes, the Fremont County Predator Board chairman reported before pausing to ask the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board a question.
“What would that be like if we did not do predator control?” Crofts asked rhetorically.
He also pointed to the agriculture and livestock producers who benefit from that “control” — a sanitized way to describe what typically involves killing. Fremont County houses 987 farmers and ranchers who exceed $10,000 in sales, he said. He recapped the coyote and predator-control activity in his 4.9-million-acre county while pitching the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board last week for more funding to do it all again.
Plainclothed federal government employees who carry out the lethal actions — running traplines to catch wolves and shooting coyotes from the air — sat nearby listening to the pitch in the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center building at the Natrona County fairgrounds.
Fremont County’s predator board applied for $387,000 for the coming fiscal year. Government trappers will have to make do with significantly less. Statewide, there is more demand for predator-focused dollars than money available, and by the time the statewide board signed off on its budget for 2026-27, the panel had knocked down Fremont County’s allocation to $290,000 — a nearly $97,000 haircut.
Almost all other county predator boards in Wyoming are in a similar position, and will have to get by with less funding than requested. There was a roughly $466,000 gap between county predator board requests and available funds. As a result, only three county boards are receiving their applied-for allocations. (Crook, $179,100, Sheridan, $188,700 and Weston, $100,000)
Sizable cuts to requested funds also hit the Johnson County Predator Board, which was granted $380,000, some 16% less than the $450,000 requested. Natrona County, meanwhile, was allocated $322,000 in funding — 11% less than the amount it applied for.
Growing investment
The shortfalls come at a time when Wyoming taxpayers are putting more and more money into efforts to kill animals the agriculture and livestock industries and county predator boards have deemed a nuisance. This coming fiscal year, it’s a nearly $4.8 million expense
The Wyoming Legislature allocates funds for the Animal Damage Management Board, created in 1999, on a two-year basis during the budget session.
In 2022, when state lawmakers set a COVID-shrunken two-year budget, the board was allocated some $5.8 million from Wyoming’s general fund. The expense grew to $8.4 million by 2024, and early this year, the Legislature signed off on a budget that gave Predator Management Coordinator Jerry Johnson nearly $9.8 million to distribute to the county boards over the next two years.
“They did take into account fuel costs and inflationary costs,” Johnson told WyoFile.
In Wyoming’s 2026-27 budget, lawmakers stipulated that $1.6 million of the funding be appropriated for “special projects prioritized for preventing listing” of a species under the Endangered Species Act.
In practice, that resulted in a sage grouse-specific line item for each county predator board. That species, which depends on the declining sagebrush biome, is facing sustained population decline.
Johnson and the Animal Damage Management Board broke up $800,000 in sage grouse-dedicated funds for the coming fiscal year, prioritizing counties that had the largest chunks of “core” habitat. Most county boards were granted $38,000, while Carbon, Natrona, Sweetwater and Fremont counties each received $65,750. Goshen County, on the eastern plains and holding few to no sage grouse, was awarded $5,000.
Not all counties receive money from the statewide board.
Teton County stands alone in not having a predator board, even though statutorily it’s technically supposed to possess one, Johnson said.
“They just choose to coexist, I guess,” he said. “They just don’t hire trappers.”
For counties to be eligible for state board funds, livestock producers in county districts must pay a $1 per-head predator fee when they sell. There’s about $1.2 million in proceeds across Wyoming, revenue that’s retained by county predator boards.
The Platte, Laramie and Sublette county boards don’t charge the full fee nor receive state board funding. Sublette County may start, however. Kristy Wardell, the county board treasurer, briefed the state board on efforts to convince local producers to pay the $1 per-head predator fee — she’s distributing a questionnaire to gauge interest.
A federal trapper told the state board that Sublette County could keep his staff busy if there were funds for a “full-time” program.
“That’s a very adverse landscape,” said Brady Smith, a district supervisor with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services. “Full suite of predators. You’re dealing with both the [wolf] trophy and predator zone.”
Bang for the buck?
County predator boards report their activities in an annual report submitted to the governor and three legislative committees.
Reporting requirements aren’t standardized, however, and some county boards provide much more information than others.
Big Horn County’s predator board is among those that delves into the specifics. In 2025, the board employed two Wildlife Service trappers, and they responded to $5,062 in reported livestock damage and another $6,900 in verified livestock damage.
Federal trappers working in the westslope Bighorn Range county targeted six species over the course of the fiscal year.
They reported killing 483 coyotes, including six dens of pups. Another 30 red foxes and six fox kit dens were eliminated. So were five ravens, including a nest, 206 raccoons and an untold number of nonnative European starlings on four different feedlots.
Other counties were sparse on details in the annual report.
The Lincoln County Predator Board, which has been investigated for Airborne Hunting Act violations, provided no overall accounting of the wildlife its civilian trappers killed using the state funding.
Woolgrower Jon Child, the county board’s chairman, used the report to detail a request for an additional $20,000. (Although Child wrote that he was asking for $20,000 more, state records show that he only asked for $10,000 more.)
“One other thing we would like to mention is that our equipment is wearing out and is not dependable,” Child wrote.
At last week’s meeting, the Animal Damage Management Board awarded Child and the Lincoln County Predator Board almost all of the requested funding. The county board received $295,000, just $3,500 less than what Child asked for.
Johnson, Wyoming’s predator management coordinator, proposes county funding levels to the statewide board. He explained his recommendation.
“Lincoln County’s always been fairly lean,” Johnson told the board. “I dropped him just a little bit.”
The Lincoln County Predator Board was in line to get the additional funding to help Child pay for a new snowmachine, he explained.
The Animal Damage Management Board made no changes to the county allocations that Johnson recommended. Last week, the board also set its budget for special projects. The nearly $268,000 in funds for those, which are often research-related, come out of a separate pot. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission contributes $200,000, and the remainder comes from the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.
Although project dollars are routed through the Animal Damage Management Board, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department prioritizes the projects and recommends funding levels. Cuts, out of necessity, were steeper: There were 16 projects totalling nearly $440,000 in requested funding, but only about 60% of that sum was available.
Some board members took issue with some of the projects. Sharon O’Toole, representing the cattle industry, took issue with a joint Game and Fish-University of Wyoming research project that seeks to develop coyote abundance estimates to improve understanding of why the canines key in on subadult deer in some mule deer herds more than others.
“I would like to eliminate it altogether,” O’Toole said. “I don’t know, in the end, if anybody would learn anything that the trappers don’t already know.”
Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce, who co-chairs the state board, stood behind the project, her agency’s second-highest priority. She spoke to the research’s “indirect” benefits.
“[We’re] gaining that understanding of the factors out on the landscape that may lead to more coyote predation in one area versus the other,” Bruce said. “If we can get to the heart of that, then we can start to manipulate things in a way that makes an impact long-lasting.”
The Animal Damage Management Board agreed to give the coyote abundance project $40,000, about half of the $77,000 that proponents requested.
This article was originally published by WyoFile and is republished here with permission. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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This news report mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves, please call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text “WYO” to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line.
CASPER, Wyo. — Three Republican gubernatorial candidates shared their views on a myriad of topics spanning taxation, energy production, resource rights and more Wednesday at the third Politics in the Park forum.
The event at Casper’s Washington Park featured state Sen. Eric Barlow, retired Marine Corps Col. Brent Bien and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. The candidates seek to replace Gov. Mark Gordon, who cannot run again due to term limits.
Fellow Republican candidate Curt Blake did not attend the forum, which was hosted by the Natrona County Republican Party and the Natrona County Republican Women. Other candidates in the race include Democrat Kenneth Castner and Constitution Party nominee Rebecca Bextel.
Taxes, budget and education
When asked about economic growth and budget strategies, the candidates offered different plans. Bien called for deep tax cuts and deregulation. He expressed support for a November ballot initiative that would exempt 50% of a primary residence’s assessed value from property taxes.
Barlow warned that broad tax cuts could hurt local public services.
“All your property taxes support local governments, your schools, your cities, towns, and counties and your special districts,” he said.
Degenfelder said the key to low taxes and maintaining services is increasing state energy production. She said the state must deliver public services efficiently without overspending, adding that the private sector is solely responsible for creating jobs and economic growth.
Elaborating on job creation and how to stimulate the economy, all three pointed to the state’s public education system as a primary workforce development driver. They stressed a need to shift focus toward trade schools and career-based learning to prepare students for current opportunities.
“We skipped an entire generation of teaching these kids [trades] when they were in school,” Bien said, emphasizing that electricians and welders can currently name their price.
Degenfelder said pushing too many students toward college caused a workforce disconnect and led young people to leave the state. She said Wyoming must prepare students for local job openings to keep them from moving away.
Barlow said educational institutions must partner directly with local industries to align training and secure the economy.
Energy and climate
Questions about uranium mining, rare earth minerals and oil and gas leasing on state lands drew unified support for ramping up extraction and streamlining the permitting process while avoiding federal overreach. Degenfelder spoke about the national security implications of domestic rare earth processing.
“Do you know who processes 90% of rare earths? It’s not another state. It’s China,” Degenfelder said. “I spent time in China. Trust me, we do not want China to be in control of who’s processing rare earth minerals.”
Bien urged the state to speed up leases and permits to generate employment. Barlow supported subsidizing and promoting rare earth processing.
Regarding climate change, Bien rejected the narrative of man-made climate shifts and favored legacy industries.
“I do believe that God controls the climate,” Bien said.
Degenfelder said climate policies have been weaponized against Wyoming’s legacy energy industries, and argued that Wyoming’s cleaner-burning coal should be used globally. Barlow advocated for an all-of-the-above approach where all energy sources compete without subsidies.
When asked about specific infrastructure projects, including an influx of data centers and a proposed pumped hydroelectric project at Seminoe Reservoir, the candidates saw things differently. Bien firmly opposed both. He said a 2010 state law unfairly granted tax waivers to multibillion-dollar corporations, creating a system of corporate favoritism that leaves local ranchers and small business owners empty-handed.
Degenfelder said she supports data centers only if they don’t deplete water resources or raise utility rates for residents. Barlow countered the negative premise of the question entirely, saying the state already has over two dozen data centers without widespread neighbor complaints or resource abuse.
All three candidates agreed the State Board of Land Commissioners has a fiduciary duty to balance energy development with long-term benefits for schools and communities, and that the state must push back against federal regulations that threaten Wyoming’s core industries.
Infrastructure, water and land access
The candidates answered questions about infrastructure, water rights and corner crossing. Degenfelder said keeping water is vital to Wyoming’s survival and pledged to work with the federal government to stop what she considered downstream theft.
“Without water, we don’t have life. Nothing else matters,” Degenfelder said. “And right now, for many, many years, we’ve allowed these downstream states to steal Wyoming’s water and now we’re in the fight for our life … for our water rights.”
2026 Politics in the Park coverage
Bien said he wouldn’t give up any more water rights beyond original compacts. He suggested investing state savings into local water storage and irrigation. Barlow acknowledged that the current multi-year drought has created natural and legal challenges, adding the Legislature is increasing its technical and legal expertise to defend water rights.
On the topic of corner crossing, the candidates noted recent court rulings that favor public access but offered different solutions. Bien said the Legislature should define a corner, Degenfelder favored case-by-case reviews, and Barlow proposed land exchanges to resolve disputes.
“If we want to have less conflict, less corner crossing, let’s work toward fewer corners,” Barlow said. “Let’s work toward consolidations within the current law. Let’s work toward things that make meaningful access available to those public land users and still protect all the private property rights.”
Healthcare and community services
The candidates expressed support for telehealth expansion, rural healthcare access and annual cancer scans for firefighters.
Degenfelder said emergency medical services should be an essential service. Bien said funding models need standardization before making a statewide EMS designation.
Barlow promised to create a healthcare strike team on Aug. 19 if he wins the primary election. He said the team would bring providers, payers and patients together to improve care.
The candidates supported protecting Medicaid for vulnerable people. Bien called for tort reform to lower insurance costs, while Degenfelder spoke about expanding the healthcare workforce pipeline.
On the state’s high veteran suicide rate, candidates supported wrap-around services, with Barlow citing local nonprofit partnerships and Bien pushing for robust VA hotline access. Degenfelder said Wyoming must make sure returning veterans are provided with strong community support and are made fully aware of the services available to them.
2026 Election Tracker
Regarding food insecurity, the candidates advocated for localized solutions, with Bien calling for ranchers to feed local schools and Barlow suggesting potential state support for school boards using their funds for nutrition programs. Degenfelder said her strategy focuses on creating more physical sites for food access and actual meals, rather than expanding government programs.
All three candidates opposed the decriminalization of marijuana.
They agreed the state’s pardon and expungement system needs reform to help nonviolent offenders restore their rights.
When asked what they would stop, Bien named corporate favoritism and regulation.
“Number one is to stop the exodus of young people from the state of Wyoming,” Degenfelder said. “You should not, if you’re a grandparent, have to get on an airplane just to see your kids and your grandchildren.”
Barlow pledged to protect public lands and reduce “the divisiveness, the ugliness that’s going on in our political climate.”
“I don’t believe it serves this nation,” he said.
Federal overreach and transparency
When asked how they would assert state authority, Bien cited the 10th Amendment and a Montana court case involving federal funds.
“So, it is one of those things to where, if it’s not in the best interest of Wyoming and it falls within the 10th Amendment and outside of those enumerated powers, I will definitely push back,” Bien said.
Degenfelder favored working with a sympathetic federal administration to return power to the states. Barlow said he would order the state attorney general to challenge unconstitutional federal mandates.
On transparency, Bien called for a state audit and an end to nondisclosure agreements in public–private partnerships. Barlow pointed to the need to update the Wyoming Public Records Act for the digital age, while Degenfelder focused on giving grassroots citizens direct access to the governor’s office rather than catering to special interests.
Closing thoughts and up next
In a lighter moment regarding daylight saving time, the candidates joked about the inconvenience, with Barlow suggesting moving the clock a half-hour permanently. He and Bien mentioned the possibility of working with governors from neighboring states to press the federal government to do away with the time change. Degenfelder said it’s an issue the Legislature is grappling with.
The evening wrapped up with a lightning round about the candidates’ favorite things about Wyoming. Barlow and Degenfelder praised the honest, hardworking people, while Bien celebrated the state’s wide, wild landscape.
Related
Warsaw, N.Y. — Speedy cow, a new community owned internet service is now online in Wyoming County.
The service will bring faster, more reliable internet to Wyoming County residents.
The county received $15 million in grant funding to build the broadband network.
Anyone living in Wyoming County can sign up on the Speedy Cow website.
With the network being community run, that means all customer service experiences will be locally based.
“At the end of the day we own the system, so if there’s an issue with the system, the service or anything like that, you call the county and we’ll take care of it,” a county official said. “We’ll reach out to community broadband networks necessary and resolve any issues that the residents might have and at the end of the day, the residents of the county, the taxpayers of the county, own this system.”
Net profits from the service will be returned to expand and improve the system.
$3.8 Million in funding awarded for Affordable Broadband in Genesee County
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One of the biggest auto and truck collections in Wyoming is about to go up for auction. You are not going to believe the size of this event. Chunks of old classics to working old cars and trucks will be on the block.
Watch the video below as they preview the Rick Knigge Collection up for auction in Evansville, Wyoming. This auction will feature many hot rod project bodies, muscle cars, old trucks, Jeeps, rock crawlers, and more. This will all be sold by VanDerBrink Auctions with online and live bidding.
The auction will be held Saturday, July 8th. Some of the auctions will be online, but some will be in person only.
According to the website, Rick passed away unexpectedly, and his family decided to offer this wild collection at auction. The auction will be live onsite with online bidding for vehicles, motors, bodies, and a few other items. There is a large assortment of 1932-35 Ford, MOPAR, Chevrolet parts, performance parts, Tri-Five, and more. These parts will be offered only to onsite bidders, so plan now to attend this wild auction.
Rick Knigge Liked to “Go Fast”! The louder, faster, the better! There are many 1932-40 Ford, Dodge, Plymouth, Chevrolet Cars and Bodies for Rods along with parts!
Here is a second video with more about Rick and the collection he loved.
The collection has muscle cars from a Plymouth GTX to Chevelles and Camaros, and more. 1970- 80s speed boats, Monster Trucks, just to name a few. There will be motors, high-performance, and vintage speed parts.
You are not going to believe the size of this event. Chunks of old classics to working old cars and trucks will be on the block.
SEE: 39 Hot Cars On Display In Wyoming
The goal of this gallery is not to provide every detail of every car, their modifications and their owners.
This was just a cool car show in Casper Wyoming.
Not matter if the people attending were into cars or not.
There was a lot of OHHH and AHHH’s heard up and down every street.
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
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