SALT LAKE CITY — Multiple groups have joined forces demanding a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture stop using M-44s, or spring-loaded cyanide bombs, in Idaho to kill coyotes after a family pet died earlier this month.

Western Watersheds Project, Predator Defense and WildEarth Guardians are among those organizations that formally petitioned Wildlife Services to stop using the devices and also called for the immediate removal for all existing bombs in the state.

"Cyanide bombs are indiscriminate killers that must be banned," said Andrea Santasiere, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "Any animal that might pull on the baited trigger is at risk, including endangered wildlife like Canada lynx and grizzlies, as well as people and pets."

The petition comes in the wake of the March 16 death of Casey, a 3-year-old Labrador, and the injuring of his teenage owner, Canyon Mansfield, on Bureau of Land Management land behind the Mansfield home in Pocatello.

Canyon and the dog were within 350 yards of the Mansfield property line when the teenager spied what looked to be a sprinkler device.

He bent over and touched it, according to his mother, Theresa Mansfield, and the cyanide capsule went off.

Bannock County Sherrif's Capt. Dan Argyle said investigators believe a strong wind carried the highly toxic gas away from the boy and toward the dog, which died within minutes.

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Controversial bomb that killed dog a common tool in Utah, West

A cyanide bomb that killed a family's pet Labrador and sent a teenager to the hospital earlier this month in Pocatello is a predator control device commonly used by the federal government to kill coyote in Utah and 15 other states around the country, mostly in the West.

The teenager, his family and first responders all received treatment at an area hospital once authorities determined the nature of the contamination.

Federal rules regarding the use of M-44s say there must be elevated signs clearly denoting the danger and they should not be placed where contact with the public or their pets is probable.

Wildlife Services, which is investigating the incident, agreed not to use the devices on public lands in a decision rendered last November.

Critics say that decision was violated because the devices were put on the BLM land adjacent to the Mansfield's property in late February.

"This incident is exactly why extremely dangerous M-44 cyanide bombs should not be placed on our public lands," said Michelle Lute with WildEarth Guardians.

"It would be an excuse to call this tragedy an accident."

M-44 are used in Utah, but state officials say they are not put out on public lands and are only used on private property at the request of the landowner to counter predation losses of livestock from coyote.

Last year, according to agency records, 56 coyotes and two red foxes were killed by M-44s in Utah.

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