Wyoming Spotlights Stalking

One in six women, and one in 19 men, have been a stalking victim at some point in their lives. Wyoming’s Stalking Resource Center says January is Stalking Awareness Month in the state. State law lists stalking as a crime, but Caroline Fleming – who works with the Stalking Resource Center – saysit’s not an easy one to identify or prosecute because it’s a series of events that instill fear. Stalking activities include repeated phone calls or texts, vandalism, animal abuse, unwanted gifts and “surprise” visits. Sometimes she says the stalking is less obvious.  Says Flemming, “What happens when you have these kinds of infestations is that you have ripple-down effects on other species within that ecosystem. And one example that we highlight in the report is grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park.”  Fleming says education is important because stalking is a significant risk factor for future serious injury or death.