Breaking! Trump Administration Reverses Approval Of M-44 “Cyanide Bombs” Following Massive Public Outrage

Seven days after WAN reported that the Trump administration unfathomably reauthorized the use of sodium cyanide in wildlife-killing devices called M-44s, comes news that the decision has been reversed.

The only logical decision, not to reauthorize the use of these “cyanide bombs” which inhumanely and indiscriminately kills thousands of animals every year, was most-likely the result of fervent public outrage.

“I am announcing a withdrawal of EPA’s interim registration review decision on sodium cyanide, the compound used in M-44 devices to control wild predators. This issue warrants further analysis and additional discussions by EPA with the registrants of this predacide,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement late last week. “The USDA is the primary registrant, along with five other state departments of agriculture: Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.”

“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,” concluded Wheeler. Unbelievable….

While this is positive news, it is not a final solution to the problem. Further analysis? Additional discussions? Come on!

What is needed is a non-negotiable permanent ban on M-44s which should and must be enforced before any more imperiled wildlife, pets, or people are harmed.

As previously reported by WAN, M-44s spray deadly sodium cyanide into the mouths of unsuspecting coyotes, foxes and other carnivores lured by bait. Anyone or anything that pulls on the baited M-44 devices can be killed or severely injured by the deadly spray.

Earlier this year, the EPA issued a suggested interim decision renewing sodium cyanide registration and opened a public comment period. More than 99.9% of the comments urged the EPA to ban M-44s, according to an analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity and Western Environmental Law Center.

The groups noted that they “will continue to hold our federal government accountable to the law, and will continue our fight for a ban on M-44s once and for all.”

According to Wildlife Services’ own data, M-44s killed 6,579 animals, mostly coyotes and foxes in 2018, down from 13,232 animals in 2017. Of these, more than 200 deaths were non-target animals, including foxes, opossums, raccoons, skunks and a bear. These numbers probably significantly under-estimate the true death toll since Wildlife Services is notorious for poor data collection and an entrenched “shoot, shovel, shut up” mentality.

Last year, the EPA denied a 2017 petition authored by the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians urging for a nationwide ban of M-44s. The killing must end!

You can help all animals by choosing compassion on your plate. #GoVeg