March 30, 2017 – This month three dogs were killed by M-44 “cyanide bombs” in Wyoming and Idaho. In both cases children were present and put at grave risk of poisoning. This is beyond unacceptable.
M-44s are indiscriminate sodium cyanide ejectors set by USDA Wildlife Services agents and local wildlife agencies for “predator control.” Details | Diagram There is no justifiable excuse for the use of M-44s. It is insane to set poison traps in the great outdoors.
We’ve been pressuring for an M-44 ban since 1990, collaborating with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oreg.). We are thrilled to announce that on March 30 Rep. DeFazio introduced the legislation we’ve been working on in Congress. The bill is called H.R. 1817, “The Chemical Poisons Reduction Act of 2017.” It would ban both lethal M-44 sodium cyanide devices and Compound 1080, which are used unnecessarily by government wildlife agents for predator control.
What we need now is your help to get this legislation passed into law. This is a nonpartisan, public safety issue, and there honestly are no valid arguments against banning wildlife poisons. Learn how to help
Background on March M-44 events
Early in March 2017 we began working with a family in Wyoming who went out for a beautiful pre-spring walk on the prairie–one they’d taken many times before–and lost two dogs in horrifying circumstances.
We’re also spreading the word about the other devastating event in Idaho, where a 14-year-old boy in Pocatello, Idaho accidentally set off an M-44 behind his back yard and watched helplessly as his dog died an excruciating death. The boy had to be hospitalized and is being closely monitored. He and his family are devastated and outraged. Here’s what our executive director, Brooks Fahy, had to say about this case in The Oregonian:
“[The] Idaho poisoning of a dog and the near poisoning of a child is yet another example of what we’ve been saying for decades: M-44s are really nothing more than land mines waiting to go off, no matter if it’s a child, a dog, or a wolf. It’s time to ban these notoriously dangerous devices on all lands across the United States.”
On March 28, 2017, we joined a coalition of environmental and wildlife groups asking for an immediate ban on M-44s in Idaho and removal of all existing devices in the state.
How You Can Help
- AMERICANS: Please support H.R. 1817, “The Chemical Poisons Reduction Act of 2017.” This federal legislation would ban wildlife poisons like M-44 “cyanide bombs” nationwide. It was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2017 by Rep. Peter Defazio (D-Oreg.). Find your Representative and urge them to sign on to and/or support DeFazio’s bill. Then spread the word to every possible person.
- OREGONIANS: Contact Rep. Peter DeFazio and let him know you support his legislation to ban M-44s and all wildlife poisons. Then contact Governor Kate Brown and ask her to permanently cut state funding for USDA Wildlife Services.
- Sign petition to ban M-44s
- Spread the word to everyone you know who cares about wolves and wildlife. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and share our posts.
- Support our work with a donation today.
Media Coverage
- Rein in wildlife agency – RegisterGuard editorial, Mar. 28, 2017
- Controversial bomb that killed dog a common tool in Utah, West – ‘I feel like I’ve had terrorism in my backyard,’ Pocatello mom says. Deseret News, Mar. 26, 2017
- THE NEW WEST: The Real Prey – Todd Wilkinson goes in-depth on how an Idaho boy almost became a casualty of the Western war waged on predators – Planet Jackson Hole, Mar. 22, 2017
- ‘Cyanide Bomb’ that killed dog, poisoned owner placed illegally by Wildlife Services – Fox 13, Mar. 21, 2017
- Family’s dog was just killed by this tool — and the U.S. Government put it there – The Dodo, Mar. 21, 2017
- USDA must rethink cyanide bombs that injured boy, killed pets, lawmaker says – Fox News , Mar. 21, 2017
- Labrador killed by cyanide device in Idaho, boy knocked to the ground –
The Oregonian, Mar. 18, 2017 - ‘Horrific incident’: Family speaks out after pet dog killed by ‘cyanide bomb‘ – Idaho State Journal, Mar. 17, 2017 (Article features video of 14 year-old boy who accidentally set off M-44 “cyanide bomb” that killed his dog.)
- Gov’t agency issues statement after family dog killed by ‘cyanide bomb’ –
East Idaho News, Mar. 17, 2017 - Pocatello boy watches family dog die after ‘cyanide bomb’ explodes –
Idaho State Journal, Mar. 16, 2017
Learn More
- Read about our work since 1990 to ban M-44s.
- Meet some folks we’ve helped who were injured by or lost their dogs to M-44s.
- Watch our award-winning, whistleblowing film, EXPOSED: USDA’s Secret War on Wildlife.
March 2017 – Just how many animals need to die a horrible death before people realize it is insane to set poison traps in the great outdoors?
A wolf died a cruel death in Oregon on Feb. 26, 2017 because of a device set on private land by federal agents from the egregiously misnamed program within the USDA called “Wildlife Services.”
We’ve been working with U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oreg.) for decades to ban wildlife poisons like the M-44 sodium cyanide ejector. These indiscriminate devices also endanger pets and people.
M-44s are an outrage, and taxpayers fund their use. This travesty must be put to an end. And it will be if enough of us speak out and demand it. We are currently working on new legislation to ban M-44s and will keep you posted. Learn how you can help
Media Coverage
- Feds kill wolf in Wallowa County on private land with cyanide trap –
The Oregonian, Mar. 2, 2017 - NE Oregon wolf poisoned by a trap set to kill coyotes –
Capital Press, Mar. 2, 2017
How You Can Help
- OREGONIANS: Contact Rep. Peter DeFazio and let him know you support legislation to ban M-44s and all wildlife poisons. Then contact Governor Kate Brown and ask her to permanently cut state funding for USDA Wildlife Services.
- OTHERS: Contact your elected officials and demand the ban of M-44s and wildlife poisons.
- Spread the word to everyone you know who cares about wolves and wildlife. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and share our posts.
- Support our work with a donation today.
Learn More
- Read about our work since 1990 to ban M-44s.
- Meet some folks we’ve helped who were injured by or lost their dogs to M-44s.
- Watch our award-winning, whistleblowing film, EXPOSED: USDA’s Secret War on Wildlife.
Source: Predator Defense – a national nonprofit helping people & wildlife coexist since 1990
