The US federal government has given “cyanide bombs” the go-ahead as a method to kill wild animals, despite strong opposition from wildlife advocates and environmentalists. These animals include coyotes, dogs, foxes, wild pigs and other wild animals across the US. Cyanide bombs also called M-44s’ are toxic traps the Department of Agriculture uses to protect livestock on behalf of rangers and farmers.
Critics are calling for a permanent ban on these devices. Warning that they can forever contaminate the environment, kill a far wider population of unintended victims and harm humans. Some environmental groups are calling for a nationwide ban and saying they are inhumane. The biggest concern with these devices is that not only “pest” animals fall victim to these traps.
The spring-loaded traps look something like a sprinkler head. They spray sodium cyanide into the mouth of animals lured in with bait. Any animal — or human — that touches the trap can trigger it.
Cyanide Bombs Killing Our Wildlife
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said their agents killed over 1.5million animals in 2018. M-44 traps killed 6,500 of those animals. Animals that get killed include owls, wolves and black bears.
Cyanide bombs killed three pet dogs, and it temporarily blinded a teenager from Idaho. His parent sued the government successfully for a settlement of $150,000 the following year. Cyanide bombs have been in use by the FWS since the 1960s. But it was forced to reconsider their use after several conservation and wildlife groups sued them in 2018.
Colorado and Idaho have previously banned the traps. Oregon signed the ban on using them into law in May.
The EPA reauthorized their use last month, allowing use on an interim basis and with certain provisos.
Safety Hazard
Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement:
Cyanide traps are indiscriminate killers that are not safe to use by anyone, anywhere, we’re Fighting for a permanent nationwide ban, which is the only way to protect people, pets and imperiled wildlife from this poison.
Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the EPA announced his withdrawal of the decision in a statement, saying:
This issue warrants further analysis and additional discussions by EPA with the registrants of this predacide… I look forward to continuing this dialogue to ensure U.S. livestock remain well-protected from dangerous predators while simultaneously minimizing off-target impacts on both humans and non-predatory animals.
The center found that 99% of comments received by the EPA about the cyanide bombs reauthorization supported a ban.
