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As the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services comes increasingly in the spotlight for its cruel and wanton killing of wild animals, federal legislation has been reintroduced that would ban one of its deadliest tools: M-44s, otherwise known as “cyanide bombs.” Urge Congress to pass this important piece of legislation!

M-44s are spring-activated bait traps placed in the ground that are loaded with sodium cyanide, which is ejected into a victim's mouth when they pull on it. They were first developed to protect the livestock industry against predators and “pest” species, but they're still being used by Wildlife Services across a dozen states, causing horrifyingly cruel deaths.

While they're supposed to target predators, like traps, they're indiscriminate killers that put all kinds of wild animals, animal companions, and people at risk.

Though there have been efforts to ban these deadly devices going back decades, an incident in 2017 helped bring them into focus when Idaho teen Canyon Mansfield almost lost his life and had to watch helplessly as his dog Kasey died a painful death in front of him after he accidentally triggered one of these devices on land near his home, which was illegally set and unmarked. It's speculated that Mansfield only survived because of the way the wind was blowing, but he still suffered from serious health problems.

Canyon's Law was introduced following that incident, and now there's another opportunity to finally see it passed with its reintroduction.

Tragically, the Mansfields aren't the only ones who have been harmed by M-44s, and they won't be the last until these archaic devices are banned from public lands.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Ban Cruel and Indiscriminate “Cyanide Bombs”: Pass Canyon’s Law!

As your constituent and someone who is concerned with wild animals and public safety, I’m writing to urge you to support Canyon’s Law (HR 4068/S 1940), which would ban the use of M-44 devices, otherwise known as “cyanide bombs,” on public lands.
 
M-44s are spring-activated bait traps placed in the ground that are loaded with sodium cyanide, which is ejected into a victim’s mouth when they pull on it. They were first developed to protect the livestock industry against predators and “pest” species, but they’re still being used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services across a dozen states.
 
Though there have been efforts to ban these deadly devices going back decades, an incident in 2017 helped bring them into focus when Idaho teen Canyon Mansfield almost lost his life and had to watch helplessly as his dog Kasey died an agonizing death in front of him after he accidentally triggered one of these devices on land near his home, which was illegally set and unmarked. It’s speculated that Mansfield only survived because of the way the wind was blowing, but he has suffered health consequences as a result of cyanide poisoning.
 
Tragically, the Mansfields aren’t the only ones who have been harmed by M-44s, and they won’t be the last until these archaic devices are banned from public lands.
 
Not only are these devices incredibly cruel, they’re putting non-target animals, threatened and endangered species, people, and animal companions at risk; they have no place on our public lands.
 
Dozens of animal advocacy and conservation organizations have petitioned the Department of the Interior (DOI) to ban their use on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management demonstrating widespread support, and last summer the DOI stated that for the record it has no “technical objections” to Canyon’s Law and would work to implement it if it was enacted.
 
I sincerely hope you will support this common-sense legislation to ban these dangerous poisons from being used on our public lands, and that it will be passed without further delay.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.