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Help Stop Use of Cruel Poisons to Kill Wildlife

Dear John,

More than 2.2 million animals, including 1.2 million native animals, were killed in 2019 by the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program. These losses include over 62,000 coyotes, 1,300 gray foxes, 400 black bears, and an endangered Mexican gray wolf. These numbers are a gross underestimate of the actual number of animals killed and the cascading effects these deaths have on ecosystems. The program uses an assortment of cruel methods, including chemical poisons. One such poison is sodium cyanide, which is used in M-44s--spring-activated devices that spray the chemical into the mouth of any animal (targeted and nontargeted alike)--who is unlucky enough to trigger it. Last year, more than 8,000 wild animals were killed by these devices. Wildlife Services has also acknowledged that 376 dogs were killed by M-44s between 2006 and 2016 as well.

Earlier this year, The Guardian's explosive article, "The secretive government agency planting 'cyanide bombs' across the US ([link removed])," documented Wildlife Services' indiscriminate use of M-44s and other poisons to kill predators, and the lasting consequences this has for families, animals, and communities. In 2017, an M-44 was planted not far from the backyard of the Mansfield family in Idaho. The device was chanced upon by the family dog, Kasey, who triggered it and was killed in agonizing fashion. Canyon Mansfield, 14 at the time, watched his dog die. He also was struck by the poison and was seriously injured himself. Since that exposure, he has experienced migraines and numbness in his hands. Traumatized by their experience, the Mansfields have become powerful advocates for banning these terrible devices.

The Chemical Poisons Reduction Act (Canyon's Law), has been reintroduced in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate (H.R. 2471 and S. 1301) to prohibit the program's use of sodium cyanide and another deadly poison--sodium fluoroacetate, known as Compound 1080, which is used in livestock collars.

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What You Can Do
Please urge your legislators ([link removed]) to cosponsor the Chemical Poisons Reduction Act to help save both animal and human lives. Then share this eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. Thank you for taking action on behalf of wildlife and companion animals!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

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Photo by Larry Lamsa

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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