John,
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program continues to use spring-loaded traps called M-44s across public lands. Each device releases a burst of sodium cyanide when triggered, instantly killing whatever animal sets it off. These devices are described as predator-control tools, but in reality, they kill indiscriminately. Family dogs, eagles, foxes, and endangered species have all been victims.
Public land should be a place where families can hike, children can explore, and wildlife can live without fear of hidden chemical weapons. Every M-44 planted by the USDA endangers people and animals alike. No family should have to experience the heartbreak of losing a pet to government-funded poison.
From 2014 to 2022, these devices killed more than 88,000 animals, and many experts believe that number is still an undercount. They are cruel, wasteful, and unnecessary. Safer and proven non-lethal methods already exist for protecting livestock and managing wildlife. Continuing to fund M-44 deployment only perpetuates needless suffering and environmental contamination.
Canyon’s Law, introduced by Representative Jared Huffman and Senator Jeff Merkley, would finally ban the use of M-44 cyanide bombs on all public lands. Congress must act before another child or family pet falls victim to these hidden poisons.
Tell Congress to pass Canyon’s Law and end the USDA’s use of M-44 cyanide bombs once and for all.
In Idaho, 14-year-old Canyon Mansfield was walking with his dog, Kasey, when he unknowingly stepped on an M-44 buried near his home. Within moments, Kasey collapsed, and Canyon was poisoned by the toxic cloud. Only a shift in the wind saved his life. Similar tragedies have occurred in Texas, Virginia, and Nebraska, leaving families devastated and communities outraged.
The continued use of these devices represents a failure of accountability. The federal government cannot claim to protect the environment while spreading toxins that devastate ecosystems and communities. By banning M-44s, Congress would take a meaningful step toward restoring public trust and protecting life on our shared lands.
Ending the use of cyanide bombs would honor years of advocacy from scientists, animal welfare organizations, and families who have demanded reform. Their work has brought us to this moment, and it is now up to lawmakers to finish what they started. The momentum exists, and bipartisan support for Canyon’s Law is growing, but public pressure must continue to build.
Tell your members of Congress to support Canyon’s Law, ban M-44 cyanide bombs, and end this chapter of taxpayer-funded cruelty for good.
Together, we can protect wildlife, pets, and people across the nation.
- DFA AF Team
