S 2179119th CongressIn Committee

Canyon’s Law

Introduced: Jun 26, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Canyon’s Law would ban the use of M-44 devices, commonly known as cyanide bombs, on public land and require removal of any such devices already placed there within 30 days after the bill becomes law. The bill labels these devices as highly toxic and harmful to people, non-target wildlife, and endangered species, and it cites past incidents to justify the prohibition. The act focuses specifically on federal lands managed by public land agencies (like the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service) and does not address private lands or non-federal uses. The sponsor is unspecified, and the bill is introduced in the Senate.

Key Points

1Prohibits preparing, placing, installing, deploying, or otherwise using an M-44 device on public land.
2Requires removal of any M-44 device on public land within 30 days after enactment.
3Defines M-44 device (a device designed to propel sodium cyanide when triggered by an animal) and clarifies it may be called an “M-44 ejector device” or an “M-44 predator control device.”
4Defines “public land” as federal land under the jurisdiction of a public land management agency and lists the agencies covered (NPS, FWS, BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service).
5Provides the act’s short title, “Canyon’s Law,” and presents findings about the toxicity of sodium cyanide, risks to people and wildlife, and prior incidents involving M-44 devices.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Public land management agencies (NPS, FWS, BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service) and anyone who uses or accesses public lands; the bill would remove current M-44 devices and prohibit future use on these lands.Secondary group/area affected- Wildlife (including non-target species and endangered species) and domestic animals (e.g., family dogs) that could be exposed to M-44 devices; livestock interests on public lands may be affected if predator-control tools are restricted.Additional impacts- Regulatory and logistical implications for federal agencies, including costs and operational planning to identify, remove, and replace predator-control methods on public lands.- Potential shifts in wildlife management practices and predator-control policies since M-44 use would be prohibited on federally managed lands.- The text does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond removal, nor does it address private lands or state/local programs.

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