Stop the Use of Cyanide Land Mines that Kill Wildlife
Days after a young male wolf died a brutal death in Oregon earlier this year, a "cyanide bomb" like the one that killed him claimed more victims.
Canyon, a 14-year old boy out for a walk with the family's Labrador retriever, inadvertently triggered the deadly device, which blasted cyanide that blinded him and killed his beloved dog.
Known as M-44s, these sweet-smelling capsules deliver a fatal dose of poison to the face or inside of the mouth when activated by an animal drawn to the scent, causing suffering no one should have to endure. M-44s are typically stuck in the ground out in the wild where anything — or anyone — might find them, making them indiscriminate killers.
USDA's Wildlife Services kills thousands of animals a year with these devices. A coyote is poisoned to death by an M-44 once every 40 minutes – that's over 13,000 coyotes a year.
With intentional and accidental deaths stacking up, the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to outlaw their use.
TAKE ACTION — tell the EPA to protect pets, people and wildlife by immediately banning the use of M-44 cyanide traps nationwide.
Mr. Pruitt,
I'm appalled by the continued use of M-44s, also known as "cyanide bombs," which kill thousands of animals each year.
[Your comment will be added here]
These animals suffer a cruel, inhumane death when they are lured by a bait that triggers a lethal dose of poison. According to the USDA’s Wildlife Services data, M-44s killed 13,530 animals, mostly coyotes and foxes, in 2016. They also kill non-target animals and even pose a threat to family pets and children. Recent studies have shown that lethal control of predators actually tends to increase livestock deaths, but Wildlife Services continues to use outdated science — and animals die as a result. Please push the EPA to stop the use of M-44s immediately.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
