The U.S. Bureau of Land Management recently announced a significant policy change, opting to discontinue using M-44 cyanide devices for predator control across its expansive public lands, totaling over 245 million acres.
This decision comes as part of a renewed memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services’ Wildlife Services, effective until September 30, 2028, with provisions for cancellation upon 60 days’ notice by either party.
M-44 devices, colloquially known as “cyanide bombs,” have been used to target predators such as foxes, coyotes, and wild dogs. However, their deployment has raised serious concerns due to accidental activations causing harm to humans, pets, and non-target wildlife.
The devices utilize sodium cyanide, classified as a Category 1 toxicant by the Environmental Protection Agency, which critics worry poses risks to ecosystems and public safety.
Incidents such as the tragic death of a family dog and injuries to a teenager in Idaho in 2017 have brought national attention to the dangers associated with M-44 devices. This, coupled with pending legislation like HR 4068/S 1940, which aims to ban M-44s on all public lands, underscores the urgent need for action.
Advocates of M-44 devices point to their specificity in targeting predator species, particularly in areas where other control methods may be impractical. They argue that these devices provide ranchers a cost-effective and efficient means of protecting their livestock, especially in remote or rugged terrain.
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, coyotes are the most common predator of livestock, killing more than 300,000 head of cattle, sheep, and goats annually. In 2020, producers spent $51.4 million preventing predation on livestock by predators.
Meanwhile, critics of M-44 devices highlight their potential risks to non-target wildlife, domestic pets, and humans due to accidental activation.
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