The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the final rule allowing the registered use of sodium cyanide for predator control. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick says they’ve been working on that with the administration for the past two and a half years and are pleased with the agency’s decision. He says sodium cyanide is a needed tool for predator control.

He says the damage caused by predators results in significant losses for sheep producers.

Orwick says the single largest predator control tool is livestock protection dogs but they aren’t the answer in every case. So, being able to use sodium cyanide is still important.

Producers are especially vulnerable to losses during lambing and calving. Sodium cyanide is only used under the oversight of federal or state wildlife officials.