Rep. Campbell proposes ban on USDA-funded wildlife control poisons
April 9, 2012 at 10:21 pm in Accountability, GAN, House, John B.T. Campbell III, News by Greyson Peltier 8 Comments
Sodium Cyanide and Compound 1080 are used routinely to kill coyotes and other wild animals that prey on domestic livestock. US Dept of Agriculture Wildlife Services has used these methods for many years. In the case of Compound 1080 this is done with with a protection collar put on sheep that may be bitten into if a coyote attacks. The coyote goes through convulsions and is dead in a few hours. Sodium Cyanide is placed in a bait that will dispense the chemical if an animal lingers around it. Unfortunately, the release mechanism can be triggered by pets and even humans. At least 5 pets have died from releases of Sodium Cyanide. M44 was also used by the Nazis as a chemical warfare agent, which opponents believe is an indication that it is a possible threat to national security.
Compound 1080 has already been outlawed in some states (ie. Oregon, California and Washington) and both substances have been banned in other countries. Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) are proposing a ban on any use of Compound 1080 and a ban on the use of sodium cyanide for animal control. If HR 4214, the Compound 1080 and Sodium Cyanide Elimination Act is passed, anyone who uses or distributes the substances could face up to 2 years in jail and/or fines. The bill has been praised by animal rights groups, like Humane Society of the United States and Predator Defense. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for these inhumane and indiscriminate poisons, which are like landmines for wildlife and family pets,” said Michael Markarian, chief program and policy officer for The Humane Society of the United States. Predator Defense cites the case of Dennis Slaugh, who, according to them, suffered great damage to his health after mistaking an M44 trap for a survey marker as reason why the bill should be made law.
“Data reported by the USDA shows that less than 1 percent of livestock are killed by predators, yet the federal government hands over millions in taxpayer-subsidized wildlife extermination services to private agribusiness every year,” says Rep. Campbell. “Through the use of very dangerous toxins like Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide, this extermination service oftentimes kills indiscriminately and results in the targeting of non-predatory wildlife and household pets. With more humane and effective predator control methods already in use, banning these poisons is a reasonable measure that protects both animals and the taxpayer.”
Environmental engineer and Orange County co-coordinator with the Coalition of California Tea Party Groups Marc Harris believes that government should not be spending on the use of these chemicals, but that the bill’s outright ban on their usage by people and entities both public and private shows the possibility of alterior motives. “Instead of banning the use of these chemical compounds–particularly in relation to the relatively MINOR impact they have on humans and domestic pets (just 5 pets killed from exposure to them)–the legislation should be to stop all federal funding associated with the use of them by the Dept. of Agriculture; as suggested by Humane Society spokesperson (Makarian) who actually got it right in saying ‘taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for these…poisons’,” says Harris, “No doubt these chemicals are used in some other way that threatens the broader objectives of Agenda 21 in terms of limiting the freedoms of Americans, destroying capitalism and free markets, and seizing the private property and assets of ordinary citizens, as they are doing all over America in and through Obama’s Rural Councils, the dictates of which are taken right out of the UN’s Agenda 21 program for world government and socialism.”
To contact Rep. Campbell, call 949.756.2244 or visit http://campbell.house.gov.
Campbell and Defazio for president!
Folks!! We must help support their efforts by letting our own legislators know our position. PLEASE contact yours today and tell him/her you support HR 4214 (the Compound 1080 and Sodium Cyanide Elimination Act), and that you want funding cuts to the USDA’s lethal predator programs whenever possible.
This has gone on because your legislator simply hears more from ranchers and sportsmen than you (us). We can change that, we must. Ask for their support, don’t be afraid to outright ask their opinion and for their co-sponsorship on this Bill!
YouTube – search “Defazio on wildlife services”. He’s awesome, but their amendment last year failed due to lack of support
1080 should not be used – here in New Zealand there have been terrible deaths suffered by wildlife and household pets. Also, what is it doing to the land? And the water? 1080 is dropped carelessly from helicopters and what damage is it doing in the streams which trickle down to our rivers and our water supplies. It is a national outrage and there is more to this than meets the eye – big business in the form of govt departments like Department of Conservation receiving huge sums of money to preserve their existence at the expense of the taxpayer funding this and the shocking deaths of animals. Ban this product internationally.
I don’t know about the poison or the use of it.
But I know one thing; the reps from California and Oregon are forever trying to tell the rest of the states how to behave.
I don’t believe the good folks in Cal and Or have any knowledge that the folks in Wyoming, Idaho don’t have. In fact both states are a mess and really don’t have any good advice for anyone.
Mind you own business and let the States decide their own laws.
Well said. I scope and a good shooting 243 also work well. But in some places, you need permission to use this method as well.
Be careful what you ask for. Farmers and Ranchers and sportsman care more about the environment than you think, it is our way of life and we want to take care of it. I agree we need to get rid of the poison, but we definitely need to support a program that provides an incentive for eliminating predators so that a healthy balance in nature exists. A new breed of environmentalist want to preserve all animals but they don’t see past the cute and the cuddly. As a ranchers wife I understand nature and the environment, and I realize a balance must be maintained. Words can not describe the joy of seeing newborn calves, foals, kids(baby goats) and lambs or how extremely painful it is to walk up on those same babies that have been mutilated by a hungry predator. Obviously you have never felt the pain of seeing that kind of damage, or you would understand the need for lethal predator programs. I pray that you never have to see your beloved pet whimpering for you to help him because something has eaten off his rear end or has tore a hole in its stomach big enough for its intestines to fall out of, while it ran for its life. Or that you child never has to endure painful shots because a skunk wondered into your yard and attacked him. I hope you never have to spend weeks nursing you own dog back to life because it chewed on an poisoned animal that died in your backyard. Our family takes pride in treating all creatures like we would want to be treated and I encourage everyone to do the same. But please understand that sometimes I have to shoot a hungry coyote before it destroys half of my baby goats. I can remove the skunk from my back yard cheaper than animal control can, please don’t ask the government to take my freedom to choose to do so.
Our country is in the awful shape it is in now because to many people demanded the desires of their heart without considering the needs of others. Let us all set aside our differences and think about what is good for the whole and not just ourselves. We must all become responsible caring citizens and consider what our demands mean not only for ourselves but others as well, that is a true Patriot. People wanted health care now we have Obamacare. People wanted Social Security and Medicare now we pay, for millions of people taking advantage of it.
In the future I want to be free to choose what is best for me, so I must think carefully about the impact of my demands today. Hindsight is twenty/twenty. Thirty years ago the government fur program allowed people to trap animals and sell the fur. It allowed people to earn extra cash and it kept predators under control. However, people demanded that the government stop the program. So the government stopped, now it has to resort to poisoning animals to keep the balance. We now realize that poisoning is wrong so we are demanding that the government stop it. Ten years from now will we have the freedom to ask the government to keep animals under control. Ten years from now will we have the freedom to own a gun to shoot a predator, or the freedom to choose anything.
If we would all just stop and think about the long term effects of our wants maybe we wouldn’t desire big government to control our future freedom. Please don’t ask the government to take away our freedom to choose what is best for our lives. Let us all cease asking the government to control our freedoms. May we all join together and do what is best to restore this great country.
I live and work in the high country
Let’s keep city rules out of our lives
I am looking for other people who know about United Nations Agenda 21. ICLEI, and Green Groups. If you don’t know what I’m talking about. Watch YouTube: Rosa Koire, Behind the Green Mask. This is a plan to regulate us out of our property rights. Our individual rights and takes $$ our of our City or yours. That is why our schools, roads, never get any where. Just start reseaching…
Are you wondering like me how the Bankrupt – San Bernardino, is now wanting eminent domain on all those failed morgages. How can they do that? How is that driving tax going to work for us?? Did you see Rep. Dana Rohrabacher talk about Climate change and all the $$$ being funneled to China?
I just found out about this 2 weeks ago & I’m looking for a group or others who find this interesting. I’m in Torrance & Mayor Frank Scotto is a member of ICLEI. We will never have a balance buget with this secret government, regulating us out of our rights. Your town of ________, Mayor ____________is a member. Do more research. It is our duty!
April