Bill to Ban Deadly Compound 1080 & M-44s Stalled in Congress

Brooks Fahy (l) & Dennis &
Dorothy Slaugh (r) meet with
Representative Peter DeFazio
on Capital Hill in June 2008.
Dennis is suffering severe, long-
term health affects from M-44
poisoning. About the bill

Legislation designed to protect humans and pets on both private and public lands

March 2011 - We wish we could say that H.R. 5643 was on its way to becoming law, but this isn’t the case. The bill would have banned two deadly wildlife poisons, Compound 1080 and Sodium Cyanide used in M-44s.

Back in June we felt optimistic about passage of this bill when John Campbell, a Republican representative from California, joined Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) as a lead co-sponsor, making the bill bi-partisan. We obtained 39 co-sponsors, but without more Republican support we were unable to secure a hearing for the bill. The prevailing political atmosphere made it impossible to move this legislation forward. We’re obviously disappointed—a lot of work went into getting the bill introduced in Congress and picking up more than three dozen co-sponsors.

These two poisons are registered through the EPA for use in lethal predator control. As part of their 15-year review process the EPA is now considering whether to continue to register these poisons. Once again, Predator Defense is officially opposing the reregistration of these two deadly killers.

Learn More About the Bill

We encourage you to learn more about the bill below, follow the links to a wealth of information on M-44 cyanide devices and Compound 1080 poison, and take action in every way you can.

• View on Open Congress website
• Read bill and summary on Library of Congress website
• Why we need this bill - "Two Killers That Need to Go"
• Learn more about M-44s and Compound 1080
• Get involved - join Predator Defense today
  
  

Working Around the Country and Across the Globe

It is important for people to remember that this bill has gone far beyond the purview of the USDA's Wildlife Services. For two decades, Predator Defense has been working with activists in New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, and in Africa and South America to bring about a worldwide ban on Compound 1080.

In June 2008 our executive director, Brooks Fahy, traveled to Washington, D.C., to gain Congressional support for this legislation. To provide a first-hand account of acute sodium cyanide poisoning by an M-44, Dennis and Dorothy Slaugh of Vernal, Utah accompanied Brooks on the trip. Dennis was poisoned in 2004 when he pulled on an M-44 that he mistook for a survey marker. Dennis is still plagued by severe health problems stemming from the poisoning. His description of this experience brought more than one Congressional staff member to tears. Dennis’ story was featured in the January 2008 issue of Men’s Journal, America’s Secret War on Wildlife, and reported in newspapers across the country.

Predator Defense covered all expenses for Dennis and Dorothy to travel Washington. Their presence put a human face on the danger posed by M-44s. Through this effort, and those of other groups and individuals, we got 35 Representatives to co-sponsored the bill. While on Capitol Hill, we also met Representative Salazar, D-CO, who had urged all members of the House, via a "Dear Colleague" letter, not to support the bill. After our meeting we were reassured that he would offer no additional opposition.

Compound 1080 Suspected in Dog's Death

May 2008 - Brooke and Cliff Everest of Bozeman, MT, lost their beloved dog, an American Brittany named Bea, whiile on a rafting trip on the White River in Utah. Bea suffered the agonizing and classic symptoms of Compound 1080 poisoning after an encounter with a sheep carcass. Read press release and letter from owners.