Save Wildlife. Ban These Poisons! Sodium cyanide and sodium fluoroacetate -- commonly called Compound 1080 -- can poison swift foxes, wolves, bears, California condors and any threatened or endangered species, or pets that happen to come into contact with them. Urge the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of sodium cyanide and Compound 1080. Please forward this message on to anyone you know who cares about protecting people, pets and endangered wildlife from these deadly poisons.

Dear Wildlife Supporter,

Each year, more than 10,000 wild animals are poisoned to death with sodium cyanide and sodium fluoroacetate, experiencing horrific deaths that can take hours. These deadly poisons are designed to kill coyotes but they also have killed swift foxes, wolves and other imperiled wildlife… as well as family dogs and people.

We have little more than 36 hours to convince the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban these poisons -- two of the world’s deadliest. Please take action right now!

Sodium cyanide and sodium fluoroacetate (commonly called Compound 1080) are considered by the EPA to be some of the deadliest toxins known to humanity. Yet, for decades, Wildlife Services, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has routinely relied on these two poisons to kill coyotes and other carnivores.

But these poisons don’t just threaten their intended targets. They can also poison any threatened or endangered species, people and pets.

How bad are they?

Sodium cyanide is used in M-44s, spring-loaded devices topped with bait lures that can attract swift foxes, wolves and other endangered carnivores. When an animal tugs on the bait, a spring shoots a capsule of sodium cyanide powder into the animal’s mouth. A victim of an M-44 device may die after less than two minutes of exposure to the poison, but deaths have been documented to take eight hours.

Based on data from Wildlife Services, more than 10,000 animals are killed by M-44s each year, including domesticated dogs, and a whole host of other non-target species including rare 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 can be deployed in poison collars placed on sheep and goats and is highly toxic to birds and mammals. It has been used to illegally to kill wolves, and carcasses with Compound 1080 must be handled as hazardous waste. If consumed, these carcasses can kill wolves and other animals.

There are effective alternatives to these poisons, including a wide range of proactive, nonlethal methods such as fencing, guard animals, fladry, non-lethal ammunition and improved animal husbandry. And yet, Wildlife Services continues to rely heavily on the use of sodium cyanide and Compound 1080 to address predation on livestock.

Help end the use of these deadly poisons. Send your personalized message to the EPA now.

We only have a short time to make a big difference for swift foxes, wolves and other wildlife. The official comment period on the ban of these toxins officially ends this Wednesday (March 5th), so please take action before noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, so we have time to compile and deliver your messages to the EPA. 

I hope you’ll help.

Sincerely,

Caroline Kennedy Senior Director, Field Conservation Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. According to government reports, Wildlife Services is unable to account for stockpiles of theses toxins, increasing the risk of theft and misuse that threatens homeland security and the safety of humans and animals. Please take action today to ban these deadly poisons.