The Environmental Protection Agency has reauthorized the use of M-44 traps, also known as “cyanide bombs,” for the killing of wild animals like coyotes and foxes, CBS News reports.
The spring-loaded devices trap animals with bait before spraying sodium cyanide into their mouths, a method that has been widely criticized as inhumane.
“Cyanide traps can’t be used safely by anyone, anywhere,” said Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement on Wednesday.
“While the EPA added some restrictions, these deadly devices have caused too much harm to remain in use. We need a permanent nationwide ban to protect people, pets and imperiled wildlife from this poison.”
The agency found in its own proposal to reauthorize the use of sodium cyanide: “The overwhelming majority of comments from the general public, including the more than 20,0000 letters from the write-in campaign, did not support the continued registration of sodium cyanide predacide uses (M-44 devices). The comments generally emphasized the alternatives for predator management, the dangers of continued M-44 use near residential areas, and the ecological concerns of killing natural predators and/or non-target wildlife. Some comments also argued that the costs of M-44 devices outweigh the benefits due to the availability of non-lethal predator control alternatives.”
Federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, are authorized to use the traps, along with state agencies in various mid-western states.
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