An M-44 cyanide trap which has been chewed by an animal.
Credit: Center for Biological Diversity
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reauthorized the use of controversial devices known as M-44s, or “cyanide bombs,” which are designed to kill certain animals for predator control purposes.
The devices use a smelly bait to lure in wildlife before releasing deadly sodium cyanide into the mouth of any animal that takes a bite.
Currently, the M-44s are used by Wildlife Services—a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency that kills millions of animals every year using a variety of methods, ostensibly to protect livestock, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).
Data from the agency suggests that these spring-loaded traps killed 6,579 animals in 2018—the majority of which were coyotes and foxes. At least 200 of these deaths were non-target animals—such as bears, skunks and opossums—although the real figure is likely higher, the CBD says, accusing the agency of poor data collection.
The spring-loaded traps are also authorized for use by state agencies in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas.
The […]
I am a wildlife supporter and am ashamed that any part of the government would kill indiscriminately anything that exists and particularly an animal which has been living in an area long before any human came into the area. The indigenous creatures, large or small, have a right that surpasses any human law or proclamation and the people who decide to kill them are wrong in harming them for any reason.