A device designed to kill coyotes, injured an innocent boy and killed his dog. The M-44 “cyanide bomb” sprays lethal cyanide on any victim who springs the trap. This isn’t the first time one of these traps has injured a human or a domestic dog, either. Obviously, this incident will impact the practice of using chemical warfare against predators.
Here’s the horrible story:
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Fourteen-year-old Canyon Mansfield is lucky to be alive. He says, “It would’ve been clear to see like a wood plank with a sign on it, but there was nothing.” Thursday afternoon canyon and his dog Kacey went to play fetch 10 minutes up the hill from their house. Canyon says, “I see this little pipe sprinkler type thing, sticking out of the ground. I reached down and I touched it. Suddenly there was like a pop and orange gas snooze out.”
While covered in the unknown orange gas, the Mansfield family learned from authorities it was a cyanide trap, a lethal chemical meant for coyotes. The 14-year-old describes what he saw after cleaning himself off with snow. “I noticed my dog was mumbling and so I walked over and see my dog and having a seizure. I’m freaking out.”
By the time, the 14-year-old made it down the hill to get his mom the champion hunting dog died. Mark Mansfield is Canyon’s Father. He says, “They’re small, and they’re lethal. And my son watched my dog die in minutes.”
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It’s was actually the government that set the trap. The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses the devices to control the coyote population. By simply labeling the device, this accident could have been prevented. Another problem with these traps, is that they don’t discriminate. Any animal that set it off is pretty much toast, though canines are most strongly attracted to it. This is where old fashioned hunting comes to the rescue. The public should much prefer sportsmen as a means of predator control, to chemical weapons. Of course, animal rights groups will try to ban all means of predator control, while others will be too generous to the M-44. Like any other dangerous device, caution needs to be taken when these things are deployed.
This is what comes from a bunch of tree hugging, sobbing, know nothing, goodie two shoes, idiots complaining about other control methods like leg hold traps. Sure they hold the animal. But even if a tame animal is caught, they are not killed and any damage can be repaired. Target animals can be dispatched quickly. And no humans can be harmed or killed. I understand that this poison kills with terrible agony.
But I guess as long as the lace panty set can’t see it, it’s OK.
Bob,
You are right on. These are the same folks who protest coyote hunting on the basis that it is cruel. I guarantee that a frangible bullet from my 22-250 causes a coyote a lot less pain in his near instant death than the lingering death caused by poison.
CHARLIE, I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE IT IF THERE WERE HUMAN HUNTS!!! THE BEST ONES TO START WITH WOULD BE LIBERALS AND INNOCENT ANIMAL KILLERS OF ANY KIND!
This bureaucratic ignorance from the words asinine government administrators … ! The death could have been the 14 year old or any human that happened along .. ! These fed idiots have to be put in place for their blatant endangerment & costs to tax payers $$’s, hunting license , permits ETC , that support this type of ignorance … ! These panty waste feds are more danger to U.S. Citizens than our worst enemy of National Security & Freedom !
The results of incompetents being place in charge of something they know nothing about an are placing
others at risk of death by their actions. This is moon beams and snowflakes inaction along with BLM
criminals who should know better.
ME THINKS SWEET OLE BOB IS PULLING AN APRIL FOOLS COMMENT!!! HOW ABOUT NO TRAPS OR POISONS OF ANY KIND EVER BEING USED BOB! MAYBE PEOPLE NEED TO STAY THE HELL OUT OF THE HABITATS OF ANIMALS. SO SAD FOR THIS DOG BUT EQUALLY SAD THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL ON THE PLANET IS THE USELESS HUMAN BEING!!!
A Coyote’s diet consists of vermin like mice, rats, moles, squirrels if they are lucky… NOT SHEEP! NOT COWS! Who is stupid enough to want nature overridden with rodents?!?!?? Leave the coyotes alone!!!!
The problem may be that they don’t have many or any natural enemies and can overpopulate an area, what will happen if they out breed their primary source of food?
And your puppy and my chickens not to mention my new born calves. My wife watched one of my moma cows trample a new born while being circled by cyotes.
Totally unethical! We humans can go to such lengths to create “fantastic” solutions to mundane problems, it is not surprising that we seem on the brink of self annihilation. Yes(!), Coyotes do damage flocks and herds, and it is a big cost factor, but to use automatic killing devices is definitely not in the best interests of our future as a tolerable species.
I am disgusted! (Siding with the Coyotes in this one, I am).
This is not “we Humans” this is asinine federal bureau of ag idiots that do not deserve a job paid by U.S. taxes ! The fact of “TOO much government” is proven in this one and many more incidents that all land management dictators force on U.S. Citizens to abide by their whims & ways of a total abuse of power against our Rights .. !
There is much not told in this story. I’ve encountered a great many of the areas laced with the traps. All of them I’ve ever encountered we clearly marked, in English as well as Spanish, at every entrance to the pasture. I kept my dogs tightly controlled when around them. THey are used to control coyotes, often when the coyotes have become too well educated to be hunted effectively, or in areas where shooting would be more dangerous than the limited range on the trap makes them.
I’m sorry for the families loss of their dog, and the injury to the boy, but perfhaps more needs to be known about how the pair accessed the area where the trap was engaged before we carte blanche condemn the traps. If it was NOT properly marked, this should be addressed. If it WAS properly marked, then the issue of the youngster crossing fences when he should stay out needs to be addressed.
The cyanide trap, like is described in this article, has been used for many years in many places, and has become known to be a very effective version of coyote control. I would hate to see it banned for someones failure to employ it correctly, or someones failure to respect property lines and warning signs.
There is much not told in this story. I’ve encountered a great many of the areas laced with the traps. All of them I’ve ever encountered were clearly marked, in English as well as Spanish, at every entrance to the pasture. I kept my dogs tightly controlled when around them. They are used to control coyotes, often when the coyotes have become too well educated to be hunted effectively, or in areas where shooting would be more dangerous than the limited range on the trap makes them.
I’m sorry for the families loss of their dog, and the injury to the boy, but perhaps more needs to be known about how the pair accessed the area where the trap was engaged before we carte blanche condemn the traps. If it was NOT properly marked, this should be addressed. If it WAS properly marked, then the issue of the youngster crossing fences when he should stay out needs to be addressed.
The cyanide trap, like is described in this article, has been used for many years in many places, and has become known to be a very effective version of coyote control. I would hate to see it banned for someones failure to employ it correctly, or someones failure to respect property lines and warning signs.
To the department of agriculture why not just use land mines does the same job.I can’t believe you would put these anywhere on U.S. soil what a bunch of dumb asses.
the poison must come in contact with moisture to work such as saliva towork then it shuts the air off the dog had his mounth over the gun to trigger it so very douful if boy was in danger
No poison….it is The wildlife folks have put out coyotes in our neck of the woods and now they are a problem.
This is a good way to kill animals without having to shoot them, But it is also idiotic and dangerous, I am 65 years old and had never heard of these things until today. It was reported that these are placed by the Department of Agriculture, do they keep track of these once placed? Do they have a shelf life? How is the area marked to warn people? How are these things triggered? What other Animals have these traps been known to kill and how many of each species ? How many Humans have been harmed/killed by these traps? I really do not agree with this style of killing as it is non selective so it will kill other Animals and would also kill a person.. How do they mark the area’s where these things are planted? Is just on private property? Also what signs are posted to warn of these things and what Language’s/ Picture’s are used?
Upon reading these emails about this device I agree with Mr. Hoodless. Who knew of these devices until this article was posted! Obviously, cynanide gas is going to take out anything around it when it is exposed to fresh air. I speak from experience as an ex-United Staes Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team member. Where were the markings and the warning signs on the property? It is assumed that the dog’s nose triggered the spraying device when the animal bumped into it out of curiosity. Cyanide gas is lethal to anything around it and Mr. Hoodless is correct relevant to all of his questions mentioned in his missive. It is sheer stupidity for individuals to just arbitrarily plant this kind of a device without knowing the consequences of what shall occur upon detonation of the poisonous contents.
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