WS employees recommend using LPC's only where the risks to nontarget animals are negligible. Secondary poisonings do not occur because the bodies of poisoned coyotes contain only nontoxic, trace levels of the toxicant. In research conducted by WS, scavenger species were given tissues from coyotes killed with sodium fluoroacetate to eat and showed no negative effect. No known nontarget poisonings have resulted from the use of LPC's containing sodium fluoroacetate. Animal species vary widely in their response to sodium fluoroacetate, with primates and birds the least sensitive and carnivores the most susceptible.
Fish show no sensitivity to the toxicant.
Livestock carcasses contaminated with toxicant on the wool or hair near punctured collars may pose a risk to scavengers. However, in research studies with dogs, skunks, magpies, and eagles that were allowed to feed on contaminated carcasses, these species were not adversely affected because they would not eat the contaminated wool or hair. A Federal service program that shares costs with cooperators, WS is authorized by Congress to manage wildlife damage as stated in the Animal Damage Control Act of March 2, 1931. The employees of WS recognize that wildlife is an important public resource greatly valued by the American people, and they conduct their wildlife damage management programs accordingly. Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over others not mentioned.