Legal Action Halts Federal Use of Strangulation Snares

A lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity has forced a federal agency to curb its killing of beavers, bears and other wildlife across Washington state.

A legal agreement, finalized June 5, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to restrict use of pesticides and lead ammunition. It also bans the use of cruel leghold traps and strangulation snares on a national wildlife refuge and in several national forests, including Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

“It’s wonderful that the measures we’ve put in place will stop so much wildlife from suffering and dying needlessly,” said Sophia Ressler, the Center attorney representing the group in the lawsuit.

“The agency has been forced to examine the damage caused by its reckless slaughter of Washington’s animals. This win is the next step in ensuring proper protections for our river otters, black bears and other wildlife.”

Today’s agreement also requires Wildlife Services to analyze the environmental effects and risks of its mammal-killing program in Washington, which targets wildlife such as beavers, coyotes, cougars and black bears. That process will give the public an opportunity to comment on agency’s activities.

The agreement imposes several measures to protect wildlife while the assessment is underway. For example, it bans the use of neck snares, prohibits lead ammunition in most instances, and restricts the use of several EPA-registered pesticides on public lands. The agreement also does not allow the use of aerial killing operations in any wilderness or wilderness study area in the state.