The Canyons Law prohibits the use of M44 cyanide predator control devices on all public lands and mandates the removal of any existing devices within 30 days.
Jeff Merkley
Senator
OR
Canyon's Law prohibits the use of M44 cyanide predator control devices on all public lands due to their extreme toxicity and documented risk to humans and non-target wildlife. The bill mandates the immediate removal of any existing M44 devices within 30 days of enactment. This action is deemed necessary because these devices frequently injure people and kill protected species, despite their low success rate against target animals.
Canyon’s Law Bans Cyanide Bombs on All Federal Land: Agencies Must Remove M44 Devices Within 30 Days
This legislation, dubbed the Canyons Law, puts a hard stop on using M44 devices—those spring-loaded, sodium cyanide-ejecting canisters used for predator control—on all federal public lands. The bill’s core action is simple: it makes it illegal for anyone to prepare, place, or use these devices on federal property. If any government agency currently has these cyanide bombs deployed, they must remove every single one within 30 days of the law taking effect.
The Fine Print on the Poison
To understand why this matters, you have to look at what an M44 device actually does. It uses sodium cyanide, which the EPA classifies as a Category One acute toxicant—the highest danger rating possible. The bill’s findings section spells out the risks: exposure can lead to nervous system shutdown, heart failure, and paralysis. This isn't just about protecting wildlife; it's about public safety. The bill highlights that since 1984, at least 42 people have accidentally triggered these devices, including a 2017 incident in Idaho where a child was exposed and suffered long-term health issues. If you’ve ever hiked, camped, or just driven through federal land, this is about reducing the risk of encountering a hidden, highly lethal trap.
Collateral Damage Control for Wildlife and Pets
The law is a direct response to the devices' lack of precision. According to the bill’s findings, M44s only successfully kill the intended target animal about 53% of the time. The rest of the time, they kill thousands of non-target animals, including protected species like bald and golden eagles, gray wolves, and bobcats. For people who live near or use public lands, the bill also notes that over 50 family dogs have been killed by these devices since 1990. This ban means a significant reduction in indiscriminate killing across vast stretches of land managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service.
Who Feels the Change
For the average person enjoying public lands, the change is entirely positive: safer trails and fewer accidental poisonings. For livestock producers and ranchers who graze animals on public land and rely on M44s for predator control, this ban forces a change in strategy. They will now need to transition to alternative, non-lethal, or less indiscriminate methods to protect their herds from coyotes and other predators. While the bill removes a dangerous tool, it doesn't immediately offer a replacement plan, meaning agencies and ranchers will need to quickly adapt their predator management programs to comply with the 30-day removal mandate. The clarity of the bill’s definitions—specifying exactly what an M44 device is and what constitutes “Public Land”—ensures that the ban is straightforward and leaves little room for jurisdictional confusion.