Senate Bill S7092

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7092

SPONSOR: HOYLMAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of cyanide devices to control wildlife

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of so-called "cyanide
bombs" to control wildlife in New York State.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 11-1101 to the environmental
conservation law to prohibit use of an M44 cyanide device, cyanide trap,
cyanide gun, or similar device designed to propel a dose of sodium cyan-
ide into any wildlife for the purposes of taking such wildlife.

Section 2 of the bill provides the effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

M44 cyanide devices, otherwise known as "cyanide bombs", are spring-
loaded devices equipped with scented bait that are used for predator
control in the United States. Once triggered, these devices are designed
to propel a lethal dose of sodium cyanide into an animal's mouth. Howev-
er, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's own data has consistently found
that in addition to killing thousands of predators such as coyotes and
foxes every year, these devices kill, maim, or injure hundreds of non-
target animals such as pet dogs, bears, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and
other animals.

According to the New York Times, while reviewing a proposal to reauthor-
ize the use of these devices in 2018, the EPA asked for public comment
and an "overwhelming majority" of the 20,000 letters submitted on the
issue were in opposition to the proposal. Despite this consensus, the
EPA announced in August 2019 that they would be reauthorizing the use of
cyanide bombs. The decision prompted intense criticism, and the EPA
reversed its decision a week later but said the issue warranted "further
analysis."

Regardless of the conclusion the EPA eventually reaches, abundant data
and evidence suggest that the use of these devices continually results
in the unfortunate and unintended death of non-predator species. In
particularly tragic cases, the devices have poisoned children, adults,
and their pets while out for walks or play. These devices are a clumsy,
unsubtle way to control predator populations, and their safety cannot be
guaranteed, no matter the restrictions placed on their use.

The use of these devices is currently prohibited in other states includ-
ing California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. New York should act
proactively and join these other states. This legislation, which is
partly modeled after legislation that was signed into law in Oregon on
May 6, 2019, would prohibit the use of these barbaric devices to protect
the health of wildlife, companion animals, and humans and prevent acci-
dental deaths as a result of the use of these devices.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.