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Environmental News
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1974
EPA TO AUTHORIZE EXPERIMENTAL USE OF SODIUM CYANIDE FOR COYOTE
CONTROL
Russell E. Train, Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, today announced that EPA is prepared to permit
experimental use of the pesticide sodium cyanide in a coyote
control device known as the M-44.
Since March 19 72, an EPA order has banned the use of sodium
cyanide and several other pesticides for use against mammalian
predators, such as the coyote. The ban aims at protecting non-
target animals from accidental poisoning.
The M-4 4, which has shown some evidence of being specific
to coyotes versus non-target species, is a spring loaded tube
placed in the ground which launches a capsule of sodium cyanide.
The cyanide ejects when a coyote pulls on a piece of scented
material on top of the tube. Cyanide kills a coyote by crippling
its central nervous system.
In deciding in favor of an M-44 experimental use program,
the Administrator turned down the requests of the States of
Texas, California, and Wyoming to use the device on an emergency
basis to curb alleged heavy sheep losses from coyotes. Instead,
these States and other parties may request experimental use per-
mits from EPA.
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"•turn this shaat If you do NOT wish to racaiva this material ~, or If Chang* of address is nwdad Q (indicate change, including zip coda).
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The permits will be issued only for non-Federal lands, in
light of a 19 72 Presidential Order which prohibits the use of
all chemical toxicants on Federally owned lands.
Under the permit system, users of the M-44 will be required
to collect data on the environmental impact of the device under
conditions of controlled field use. This is the type of infor-
mation needed by EPA for an informed decision on what uses, if
any, are appropriate for sodium cyanide in the M-44 in the future.
Data to be collected under the permit system will include:
1.	The degree of coyote control which can be achieved by
the M-44 without causing unreasonable adverse effects on man
or the environment.
2.	Reliable information on the effectiveness of the M-44
in preventing or controlling sheep losses.
3.	A comparison of the effectiveness and cost of the M-44
with non-chemical means of control, including denning, shooting,
trapping and protective measures applied directly to sheep such
as bells and repellant odors.
The Administrator has denied the request of the M-44's sole
manufacturer to register sodium cyanide for use in the device at
this time. Despite some evidence that the M-44 is selective to
coyotes, further information is needed in this area and on the
question of the effectiveness of the M-44 in preventing live-
stock losses. The sole manufacturer of the device is the M-44
Safety Predator Control Company of Midland, Texas.
EPA officials will be working closely over the next several
weeks with those States wishing to obtain an experimental use
permit to develop the specific requirements for use programs.
Of particular concern will be the establishment of reliable means
for generation and collection of the information required by the
experimental program. Assurance will also be made for adequate
supervision of the use of the M-44 device. EPA expects that the
programs developed for the first one or two States receiving
permits will serve as models for any additional permit requests.
The M-44, which has never been registered by EPA, differs
markedly in certain respects from cyanide devices in use at the
time the March 19 72 Order was issued. The M-44 appears to present
substantially less hazard to humans than the explosive devices
previously us ed.
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R-326

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Reports available to EPA show that the M-44 has been exten-
sively used in some States with no reported human injuries.
Some evidence is also available that the M-44 is more selective
to coyotes than devices used in the past. In addition, the
M-44 cannot endanger non-target species through secondary
poisoning, as can some of the other chemicals which were used
for predator control prior to 19 72.
Secondary poisoning results when another animal, such as a
fox, an eagle or other wild bird, preys upon the animal which
initially ingests the poison and is killed by the chemical re-
maining in the carcass.
Notice of EPA's M-44 action will appear soon in the Federal
Register.
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