Trump administration quietly greenlights use of ‘cyanide bombs’ on public lands

For decades, the Bureau of Land Management has used so-called cyanide bombs to control predator populations on public lands. The controversial tactic was banned in 2023, but the Trump administration has quietly approved its reuse.

An April memorandum signed by the BLM and the Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program, released by the advocacy group Predator Defense, shows that the BLM effectively repealed the ban on the deployment of M-44s, spring-loaded poison traps that spray sodium cyanide powder when triggered.

“M-44s are indiscriminate killers and cannot be used safely,” Predator Defense wrote in a statement. “They’re supposed to kill coyotes – which any true conservation biologist can tell you is an exercise in futility – but they’re also killing endangered species, key native predators, and countless beloved dogs, none of whom can read the warning signs. They’ve also poisoned countless people. It’s only a matter of time before one kills a child.”

Prior to 2023, the BLM used M-44s to minimize predation on livestock, manage wildlife diseases, prevent wildlife threats to human safety, and control invasive species. Environmentalists have long scrutinized this tactic, arguing that it is inhumane, indiscriminate and dangerous to the public.

Opposition came to a head in 2017 when a 14-year-old boy and his dog were accidentally sprayed by an M-44 in the hills behind their Idaho home. The boy survived, but the dog collapsed and died instantly. The incident led to restrictions or bans on the use of the M-44 in Idaho, Colorado and Oregon, although environmental groups have called for a nationwide ban. The first Trump administration reauthorized federal use of M-44s in 2019, but later reversed that decision due to sustained public outcry.

In 2023, the Biden administration banned wildlife services from using M-44s on BLM lands nationwide. The decision was praised by environmentalists, but the new memo between BLM and Wildlife Services appears to reverse it.

The fight begins again

The document states that Wildlife Services must provide notification of chemical application to the local BLM office and/or district office before using pesticides restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency, including M-44s. This implies a clear path to deploying these poison traps on public lands.

In an emailed statement, a BLM spokesperson told Gizmodo that the memo identifies restricted-use pesticides “as tools that may be considered under current law and environmental review” and does not per se authorize or expand the use of M-44s.

“BLM will continue to evaluate proposals on a case-by-case basis and may prohibit or restrict these tools where warranted to protect public safety, pets, wildlife and designated lands,” Packer added.

Still, the memo sparked new concerns from environmentalists and public safety advocates. Nada Wolff Culver, who was a senior BLM official when the agency banned use of the M-44 in 2023, told the New York Times it was disappointing to see the Trump administration backtrack.

“There’s no hiding the risk they pose to users of public lands,” she said.

Further details of the reauthorization are expected to emerge amid growing public pressure. Several organizations have pledged to fight the move, but it remains to be seen whether they can appeal to an administration known for prioritizing industry over the environment and public health.