Imagine your child or dog running outside, exploring nature, only to accidentally trigger a hidden cyanide device designed to spray deadly poison.
That terrifying scenario is now becoming more possible after the Trump administration reversed a ban on so-called “cyanide bombs” on public lands.
These spring-loaded traps, known as M-44 devices, are meant to kill coyotes and other predators. But they are indiscriminate, dangerous, and capable of harming far more than their intended targets.
Sign the petition to demand an immediate ban on cyanide bombs on public lands.
These poison devices eject sodium cyanide into an animal’s mouth when triggered, killing the target within minutes.
But wildlife experts warn they don’t discriminate between a coyote, an endangered wolf, a family dog, or even a curious child. And this danger is not hypothetical.
In one horrifying case, a 14-year-old boy in Idaho was sprayed by a cyanide bomb while walking near his home. His dog collapsed and died beside him, and the boy had to be hospitalized after suffering temporary blindness. This cannot happen again.
Experts have repeatedly warned that these traps poison wildlife, threaten endangered species, and put people, pets, and ecosystems at risk, all while failing to address the root causes of livestock predation.
Public lands should be safe for families, wildlife, and communities, not scattered with hidden poison devices.
Sign the petition now to urge federal officials to permanently ban cyanide bombs and stop these indiscriminate poison traps from harming animals, people, and the environment.
This article by OGP News was first published by One Green Planet on 5 June 2026. Lead Image: Image Credit: Frantisek Turna/Shutterstock.
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