WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Administrator Lee Zeldin, and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator, Dr. Michael Waston, requesting the agencies to join forces to address escalating livestock predation threatening sheep and goat producers.

The letter specifically asks the agencies to explore registering and deploying single-lethal-dose (SLD) baits, similar to M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices, which are proven predator control tools.

Predation of livestock by coyotes, foxes, and other species has reached alarming levels nationwide. Two decades ago, there were nearly twice as many sheep and goats in Texas as there are currently. This issue has forced many producers out of business, adversely affecting rural economies and threatening the sustainability of American sheep and goat production. SLD baits would be a crucial tool in aiding producers to protect their livestock from predators, saving millions of dollars.

In the letter, Rep. Pfluger wrote, in part:

"I write to express concerns about the growing problem of livestock predation, particularly of sheep and goats. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified predation as a significant cause of loss for sheep and goat operations1, and each successive survey of producers indicates increasing losses. The issue has forced many producers out of business, adversely affected rural economies, and threatens the sustainability of American sheep and goat production. We respectfully request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to identify and evaluate predation control methods to increase preparedness and provide sheep and goat producers with additional tools. Specifically, I urge EPA to assess the regulatory status of single-lethal-dose (SLD) baits and explore the feasibility of regulating these products similarly to the M-44 sodium cyanide ejector device."

Sharon Pfluger Holman, President of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, issued the following statement in support of Rep. Pfluger's letter:

"The predation of sheep and goats has continued to increase despite using all available tools. Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association fully supports the commercial use of single-lethal-dose baits using sodium fluoroacetate or para-aminopropiophenone for the reduction of canine predation."

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Background:

Since being elected to Congress, Rep. Pfluger has been a staunch advocate for Texas agriculture, including sheep and goat producers in Texas-11.

In 2024, Rep. Pfluger led his colleagues in a bicameral letter demanding the EPA roll back its ban on purchasing or deploying M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices.