SUPPORT THE COMPOUND 1080 AND SODIUM CYANIDE ELIMINatioN ACT Stop the use of taxpayer funds to poison wildlife. Every year the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program spends millions of taxpayer dollars on lethal predator control. A portion of the program’s substantial expenditures is dedicated to poisoning wildlife with two extremely dangerous and indiscriminate poisons: sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) and sodium cyanide (M-44 devices). fact sheet fact Compound 1080 Livestock Protection Collars Compound 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) is an extremely dangerous poison that is used in livestock protection collars (LPCs), which are placed around the necks of sheep or goats, and are intended to poison coyotes and other predators that may puncture a collar while attempting to prey on livestock. Denis-Carl Robidoux Compound 1080 LPCs: with Compound 1080 are typically not Cause extraordinary suffering. Once recovered, there is a substantial risk of exposed to Compound 1080, an animal secondary poisoning of wildlife. will experience a slow, excruciating Endanger pets. Domestic animals are death. Death from Compound 1080 is at risk, too, as Wildlife Services has typically drawn out over several hours— acknowledged: “Compound 1080 is sometimes days—and “may result from: hazardous to domestic animals including (a) gradual cardiac failure or ventricular livestock and pets. Dogs are particularly fibrillation; or (b) progressive depression susceptible....As little as 0.1 ml of an of the central nervous system with either LPC’s contents may be fatal to a 25 cardiac or respiratory failure as the pound dog. Dogs could be poisoned by terminal event; or (c) respiratory arrest scavenging the carcasses of collared following severe convulsions.”1 livestock.”3 Harm non-target species. Compound Threaten public safety and national 1080 can leak from LPCs and directly security. In addition to its environmental contaminate the environment, exposing and animal welfare impacts, Compound non-target species to its harmful effects. 1080 poses significant threats to Studies have shown that wire, vegetation, humans. This “very highly toxic”4 or other objects are responsible for more chemical is colorless, tasteless, odorless, LPC punctures than are coyotes, and and water-soluble. The poison is so collars are often reported as missing.2 dangerous that the FBI has identified Because carcasses of animals poisoned Animal Welfare Institute it as a potential weapon of terrorism, and Wildlife Services itself has stated opossums, raccoons, bears, swift foxes, that “Compound 1080 is highly toxic to and bobcats, as well as endangered warm blooded animals, including man, species.7 when taken internally. ... [O]ne LP collar Threaten humans and pets. M-44s have contains approximately 2 to 6 lethal doses killed family pets across the country and for a 150 pound man.”5 As with animals, have caused severe, irreparable harm anyone who is exposed to the substance to people who have been exposed. For will experience a great deal of pain and example, in 2011, a Texas family lost its ultimately death, as—alarmingly—there beloved dog to an M-44 set by Wildlife is no known antidote to Compound 1080 Services just 918 poisoning. feet from the family’s home. In Sodium Cyanide M-44 Devices addition, families in West Virginia and M-44s are baited, spring-activated devices Nebraska each lost that contain deadly sodium cyanide. pets to the same When an animal, attracted by the bait, fate the previous 1 pulls on the poisoned trap, the M-44 Atzert, S.P. 1971. A Review year, and similar of Sodium Monofluoroacetate propels sodium cyanide into his or her (Compound 1080). U.S. Department incidents have been of the Interior Fish and Wildlife mouth, thereby poisoning and killing the Service, Washington, D.C. reported across animal. 2 the United States. See, for example, Watson, M. 1990. Predator Defense Brooks Fahy, Rancher Use of Livestock Protection Humans who have Collars in Texas. Proceedings of the Fourteenth Vertebrate Pest been exposed to sodium cyanide released Conference 277–280. by M-44s, either while trying to rescue 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture pets or through other inadvertent contact, Wildlife Services. 1998. Technical Bulletin: Compound 1080 Livestock have experienced debilitating health Protection Collar. effects and suffered chronic maladies. 4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Registration Eligibility Decision (RED): Sodium Fluoroacetate, EPA 738-R-95-025. Brooks Fahy, Predator Defense Brooks Fahy, The Solution 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. 1998. Technical Bulletin: Compound 1080 Livestock The Compound 1080 and Sodium Protection Collar. M-44 sodium cyanide traps: Cyanide Elimination Act will amend the 6 Centers for Disease Control and Cause severe, unnecessary pain and Prevention, Sodium Cyanide: Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit Systemic Agent, available at http:// suffering. When an animal triggers an the use, production, sale, importation, www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/ EmergencyResponseCard_29750036. M-44, the sodium cyanide reacts with or exportation of the poison sodium html. the moisture in the animal’s mouth or fluoroacetate (known as “Compound 7 See Predator Defense. 2012. nostrils to produce toxic fumes, exposure 1080”), and prohibit the use of sodium Federal Statistics: Animal Deaths from M-44s and Compound 1080 to which causes substantial suffering cyanide for predator control. in 2010. (including convulsions, foaming at the mouth, pulmonary edema, and paralysis) and ultimately, death.6 Animal Welfare Institute To learn more about the Compound 1080 900 Pennsylvania Ave, SE and Sodium Cyanide Elimination Act, Washington, DC 20003 Kill indiscriminately. M-44s are nonselective, and often kill non-target contact Carson Barylak at at (202) 446- Phone (202) 337-2332 wildlife species. The USDA acknowledges 2140 or [email protected]. Fax (202) 446-2131 that unintended victims include skunks, www.awionline.org.