The Trump administration has lifted the ban on spring-loaded cyanide traps on U.S. public lands [1, 2].
This policy shift allows the return of devices known as M-44 "cyanide bombs," which are used to kill coyotes and other predators that prey on livestock [1, 2]. The decision marks a significant change in how the Bureau of Land Management handles predator control on federal territories.
According to a memo from the Bureau of Land Management, the traps are intended to protect agricultural interests by reducing the number of predators in areas where livestock graze [1, 2]. These devices operate by releasing a lethal dose of cyanide gas when triggered by an animal.
The use of these traps has long been a point of contention between livestock producers and conservationists. Supporters of the measure argue that predators cause significant economic losses to ranchers. Opponents, however, argue that the traps are indiscriminate and can kill non-target species, including endangered wildlife, and pets [1, 2].
The Bureau of Land Management manages vast tracts of land across the western United States. The return of these devices to public lands follows a period where their use was restricted to prevent accidental poisonings and environmental contamination [1, 2].
Officials said the move is necessary to provide more effective tools for livestock protection. The administration has not specified if there will be new restrictions on where these traps can be placed or how they must be monitored to prevent accidental triggers [1, 2].
“The Trump administration has lifted the ban on spring-loaded cyanide traps on U.S. public lands.”
The reinstatement of M-44 traps reflects a prioritization of agricultural protection over broad wildlife conservation. By allowing these lethal devices back onto public lands, the administration is shifting the risk of predator control from the livestock industry to the general ecosystem, potentially increasing the risk of accidental deaths among non-target species and hikers.
