Every year, federal Wildlife Services kills more than 10,000 wild animals by poisoning them with toxic sodium cyanide and sodium monofluoroacetate (known as Compound 1080). These poisons are deployed on federal lands -- lands owned by you and me.
The Environmental Protection Agency will review the use of these poisons until November 24.
These are some of the most lethal toxins known to human kind and result in a horrific death for the animals. Their last moments of life are cursed with dizziness, convulsions and excruciating pain -- and this agony can last for hours.
Furthermore, these deadly chemicals are left out and don't always reach their intended victims. Endangered wolves, rare swift foxes and domestic dogs have been killed by traps left unattended.
Urge the EPA to end the use of these poisons on our wildlife.
Dear [Decision Maker],
As someone who is concerned about the safety of people, pets and wildlife, I strongly urge your agency to ban sodium cyanide and sodium monofluoroacetate (commonly called Compound 1080).
[Your personal comments will be inserted here.]
Sodium cyanide and sodium monofluoroacetate are considered to be some of the deadliest toxins known to humanity.
Yet, Wildlife Services, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), regularly uses these two poisons to kill coyotes and other predators. In 2009, the two poisons killed an average of 1.5 animals every hour. In many instances, these deadly poisons are deployed on public lands.
But these poisons don't just threaten their intended targets. They can also poison any threatened or endangered species, people or pets that happen to come into contact with them.
Sodium cyanide is used in M-44 trigger traps, which kill more than 10,000 animals each year, including domesticated dogs and a whole host of other non-target species including kit foxes, ringtails, javelinas, and swift foxes. M-44s have also killed California condors and wolves.
Compound 1080 is classified as a chemical weapon in several countries. It is deployed in poison collars placed on sheep and goats and is highly toxic to birds and mammals.
Carcasses with Compound 1080 must be handled as hazardous waste and, if ingested, can kill wolves and other animals. Compound 1080 has even been used to illegally kill wolves and people's pets.
The continued availability of these poisons poses a threat to people, pets and homeland security. Government reports have concluded that Wildlife Services has been unable to account for stockpiles of the toxins, which leaves the hazardous materials vulnerable to undetected theft and unauthorized use.
There are effective alternatives to these poisons, including a wide range of proactive, nonlethal methods for protecting livestock such as fencing, guard animals, fladry, non-lethal ammunition and improved animal husbandry.
For the safety of our people, our pets and our wildlife, I strongly urge you to ban the use of sodium cyanide and Compound 1080.
Thank you for considering my comments.
