Center for Biological Diversity

For Immediate Release, June 13, 2017

Contact:  Amey Owen, Animal Welfare Institute, (202) 446-2128, amey@awionline.org  
Andrea Santarsiere, Center for Biological Diversity, (303) 854-7748, asantarsiere@biologicaldiversity.org
Brooks Fahy, Predator Defense, (541) 520-6003, brooks@predatordefense.org
Camilla Fox, Project Coyote, (415) 690-0338, info@projectcoyote.org   
Erik Molvar, Western Watersheds Project, (307) 399-7910, emolvar@westernwatersheds.org
Kristin Combs, Wyoming Untrapped, (307) 201-2422, kristin.combs@wyominguntrapped.org
Michelle Lute, WildEarth Guardians, (406) 848-4910, mlute@wildearthguardians.org
Natalia Lima, Animal Legal Defense Fund, (201) 679-7088, nlima@aldf.org

Immediate Ban Sought on M-44 'Cyanide Bombs' in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo.— A coalition of conservation and wildlife organizations today formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services animal-killing program for an immediate ban on the use of M-44 cyanide devices in Wyoming.

Also known as “cyanide bombs,” M-44s recently killed two family dogs in Wyoming and hospitalized an Idaho teenager after killing his pet dog. A similar petition was filed in Idaho in March, after which Wildlife Services agreed to remove M-44s from all lands in Idaho.

“We're not at war with native wildlife, and it is irresponsible to allow poison landmines to be sown anywhere in Wyoming,” said Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project. “Wildlife Services got rid of M-44s in Idaho, and they should do the same in Wyoming before more pets, and even people, get hurt or killed.”

The organizations requested the immediate removal of all existing devices from Wyoming. M-44s, also called “coyote getters,” lead to the agonizing death of thousands of animals every year, many of them nontarget animals.

Between 2000 and 2016, M-44s in Wyoming killed 5,973 target animals, 112 nontarget animals, including eight dogs, and 447 unclassified animals, according to the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which oversees the Wildlife Services program. In addition, at least two dogs have been killed in 2017. 

“There is absolutely no reason for a government agency to be placing poisonous gas anywhere, much less mere yards from where people and pets live,” said Tara Zuardo, wildlife attorney with the Animal Welfare Institute. “Devices like these are not only extremely dangerous, but they also represent wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and are the cause of tremendous suffering for both people and animals.”

“The incredibly dangerous devices kill indiscriminately, and deaths of pets are common,” said Brooks Fahy, director of Predator Defense. “Unless there are witnesses, agencies often don't record the poisonings. Families are than left to wonder what happened to their dog.”

“These incidents display the extremely dangerous and indiscriminate nature of M-44 cyanide bombs and Wildlife Services negligence,” said Michelle Lute, wildlife coexistence campaigner for WildEarth Guardians. “Federal employees should not be placing deadly devices anywhere on our public or private lands, which should be safe for families to recreate with their companion animals.”

“Cyanide bombs are indiscriminate killers that must be banned,” said Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Any animal that might pull on the baited trigger is at risk, including endangered wildlife like grizzlies, as well as people and pets. And in just the past few months, these cruel devices have injured a child and killed an endangered wolf and several family dogs. Enough is enough.”

Federal law requires Wildlife Services to provide a final decision in writing to the petitioners.

“Wyomingites place a high value on wildlife, as tourism is the second largest industry in the state with many visitors coming to see and photograph predators like foxes, wolves, bears and coyotes,” said Kristin Combs, program director for Wyoming Untrapped. “To allow these devices to continue to wantonly kill our wildlife and beloved pets is both morally and financially reckless and irresponsible. There is no scientific evidence that M-44s are effective in reducing predation of livestock. It's way past time to ban these devices.”

“Taxpayers should not be expected to continue funding the cruel slaughter of wildlife at the behest of agricultural producers' profits,” said Stephen Wells, executive director of Animal Legal Defense Fund. “Cyanide bombs are indiscriminate and inhumane—and are a proven danger to humans and companion animals. These devices have no rightful place in wildlife policy.”

“Many effective nonlethal alternatives exist to eliminate or reduce conflicts between livestock and predators,” said Camilla Fox, executive director of Project Coyote. “It's time our federal government followed the lead of Washington, California and other states in banning these deadly poisons once and for all.”

Click here to view the petition.

www.biologicaldiversity.org

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