Pawsitive Energy and Coyotes

Yes, today is the big day for the 2nd Annual Worldwide Movement. It will be at 6:00 PM EST here in Georgia.  If you aren't sure what hour 11 PM GMT is in your area, you can easily check at the (UTC/GMT) Time Zone Converter site.   

And if you've missed the news circulating around the pet blogs, visit Jake & Fergi's post for background information.  We hope to "see" you there.

One other thing we would like to post before we forget again is an Animal Welfare Institute alert we received recently.

Help End the Senseless Poisoning of Coyotes and Other Wildlife:
Your Comments Are Needed by Nov. 22!


As citizens concerned for the welfare of our wildlife and for the health of our environment, we have an opportunity to make a difference for coyotes and other native carnivores. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing the use of sodium monofluoroacetate (also known as Compound 1080) and sodium cyanide to kill coyotes and other wildlife. Your voice is needed during this important public comment period to urge the EPA to ban these deadly poisons.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services agency continues to rely heavily on Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide to kill coyotes and other animals deemed a ‘threat to livestock’ – despite the fact that only a small percentage of sheep and cattle are killed by predators. In 2009, these two poisons killed more than 13,000 animals, causing agonizing deaths for many.


Banned by previous administrations (and then later re-legalized as a result of pressure from agricultural and livestock interest groups), these poisons have been condemned as cruel, indiscriminate, and dangerous. Non-target victims include domestic dogs, gray wolves, federally protected birds of prey, and people.


Because of the dangers and cruelty associated with these poisons, citizens in California (1998) and Washington State (2000) passed ballot initiatives that banned Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide.


After 9/11 the FBI listed sodium fluoroacetate as "a highly toxic pesticide judged most likely to be used by terrorists or for malicious intent." According to the FBI, the main criteria for a poison being added to the list are those with "high dermal or inhalation toxicity, common malicious use reported, and prior use by terrorists." The FBI, the EPA, and the World Health Organization classify Compound 1080 as an “extremely hazardous toxic pesticide."


Yet our tax dollars continue to subsidize the use of these poisons – often on public lands – while audits by the Office of the Inspector General found that there is improper and unaccountable stockpiling of these lethal substances.


WHAT YOU CAN DO:


Now we have an opportunity to ban these poisons! Please, send a message today to the EPA and urge them to end the use of Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide nationwide.


TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:

Comments must be received by Nov. 22, 2010 and must be identified by the docket identification number EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0752 and EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0753.


Please follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov


Or mail your written comments to:
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP)
Regulatory Public Docket (7502P)
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460–0001


Points to Include in Your Letter:


* I am writing regarding EPA Docket numbers EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0752 and EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0753 in support of prohibiting use of sodium monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) and sodium cyanide.
* Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide are extremely dangerous and inhumane.
* Death by Compound 1080 is agonizing, excruciating, and slow (it usually takes between 3 and 15 hours). Exposure can result in cardiac failure, progressive failure of the central nervous system, or respiratory arrest following severe prolonged convulsions.
* Compound 1080 is one of the deadliest poisons on earth and has no antidote.
The EPA classifies Compound 1080 as an “extremely hazardous” toxin that poses a significant hazard to human health and safety and to non-target wildlife. For these reasons the EPA banned Compound 1080 throughout the U.S. in 1972.
* Compound 1080 is a potential terrorist threat to water and food supplies; according to its own records, Wildlife Services cannot account for all the Compound 1080 it has and uses.
* In addition to these poisons’ toll on wildlife, they put public safety at risk; hundreds of pet dogs are harmed or killed by sodium cyanide each year, and humans have also been severely injured by accidentally triggering M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices or handling poisoned pets.
* Paradoxically, killing coyotes can increase their numbers by triggering breeding and larger litters.
* Rather than killing predators, ranchers should make better use of good husbandry practices such livestock guard animals, electronic sound and light devices, penning animals as night, lambing in structures, promptly removing any carcasses and fencing appropriately.
* Scientific research shows that it makes more economic sense to implement long-term predator deterrents than to kill coyotes and other predators.


Thank you for helping to end senseless poisoning of coyotes and other wildlife by Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide!


Please be sure to share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact the EPA, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!


Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President