BLACKFOOT — Though temperatures in Southeast Idaho have climaxed in the high 90s the past few weeks, recreational swimmers, especially those enjoying Jensen’s Grove in Blackfoot, are feeling the effects of a long, harsh winter.

Several visitors to Jensen’s Grove have reported cases of swimmer’s itch and many posted pictures of their infection to social media sites.

Meanwhile, Blackfoot Mayor Paul Loomis said he is unaware if more cases have been reported this year than in years prior, but he offered an explanation as to why swimmers may be more susceptible this time of year.

“There was a two-week period around the end of June that the Snake River was so high that we closed the inlet (to Jensen’s Grove) entirely,” Loomis said. “The river was so high that it was backing in from the outlet.”

Now, Loomis said city officials are running a considerable amount of water, about 30 cubic feet per second into Jensen’s Grove to help mitigate swimmer’s itch complaints.

Swimmer’s itch, also known as cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash. It’s caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and mammals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

These parasites are released from infected snails into areas with fresh and salt water such as lakes, ponds, and oceans. While the parasite’s preferred host is the specific bird or mammal, if the parasite comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash. Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months.

Symptoms — which include tingling, burning or itching skin, small reddish pimples and small blisters — can be treated with corticosteroid cream, a cool compress, a baking soda, Epsom salt or colloidal oatmeal bath, anti-itch lotion or a paste made from baking soda and water, according to CDC’s website. Typically, those who contract the rash don’t have to seek medical attention.

Steve Pew, the environmental health director for Southeastern Idaho Public Health, said swimmer’s itch isn’t something local health experts track and report on in terms of other diseases.

“We don’t regularly track it, but I have heard of people contracting swimmer’s itch in some other bodies of water such as some smaller swimming areas that don’t have a larger circulation,” Pew said. “We have this every year almost like clockwork. We either recommend staying out of the water or be sure to shower off afterwards.”

Following several reports of swimmer’s itch at Jensen’s Grove, the city of Blackfoot released the following statement to its Facebook page last week:

“Please realize that swimmer’s itch occurs in any slow moving body of water that is frequented by water fowl. With the Snake River as high as it was, a high flow rate of water circulation wasn’t possible. Now that the Snake River is lower, we are circulating water through Jensen’s Grove as rapidly as possible to help reduce the problem of swimmer’s itch,” it said.

The statement notes there are signs posted at the Grove warning that individuals might get swimmer’s itch. The signs recommend rinsing immediately after getting out of the water. This will reduce, or eliminate entirely, the chances of getting swimmer’s itch.

Loomis said that in addition to posting additional warning signs, the city is considering adding warning messages in Spanish to accommodate bilingual or Spanish-speaking patrons.

“Some people just seem to be more susceptible to swimmer’s itch,” Loomis said. “Me and my grandchildren were out at Jensen’s Grove and we didn’t have any significant skin reaction. My recommendation is for those enjoying the water to shower immediately after they finish swimming in the water.”

POCATELLO — Large urban deer populations have caused quite the stir in south Pocatello in recent years, but finding a solution to that problem has proven to be complex.

Attempting to find a resolution that satisfies both advocates and detractors of what appears to be a growing population of fearless neighbors moving in, Pocatello and Idaho Fish and Game officials hosted a community forum on Wednesday, which allowed residents to voice concerns, support and solutions to this difficult predicament.

“This meeting was an attempt to gauge the interest of the public,” said Jim Mende, an environmental staff biologist for Idaho Fish and Game. “We really don’t have many solutions, but there are individuals who are being impacted by wildlife and some that, in general, enjoy seeing wildlife.”

Close to 100 people packed the regional office on Barton Road, and while many residents voiced their experiences, only a few had potential solutions to offer.

Denise England, who has lived on Country Club Drive for the past 35 years, said she never had a problem with handful of deer that frequented her property. That changed, however, when that handful more than tripled.

“Yes, I do love the deer,” England said. “Now, it’s not about whether we like them or not it’s not about numbers and it shouldn’t be about picking a side. It’s not a football team. Now that we have 20 deer I’ve started calling them the ‘Country Club 20.’ They are giving birth to more and they are not afraid of you.”

From destroying plants and shrubbery to mauling family pets, some residents believe that Fish and Game isn’t doing enough to curtail the rising population.

Others sided with the deer, attempting to ruminate on the fact that people living in the area moved into deer country fully knowing what to expect.

“I think this is ridiculous,” said Bud Smalley a resident in the Johnny Creek area since 1990. “Our homes are built inside of deer country. The deer population wax and weens, and right now it’s at an all-time high, but what the city needs to do is fine anybody who feeds the deer.”

Many of the residents have found solutions of their own including tall fences surrounding lawns and gardens and bark protectors around trees.

“I’ve lost hundreds of dollars from deer eating the plantings,” said resident Rebecca Hathaway. “I know they like roses so I spray with deer stopper, put fences around the shrubs and bark protectors around the trees. Sure, occasionally they will nip a bud or two but they can’t horn the trees or eat the plants, and so far, it works great.”

To further the discussion and find an answer to this problem, Idaho Fish and Game requested interested attendees to sign up for a urban deer committee task force.

“This task force is going to be instrumental in finding a solution,” Mende said. “It’s a smaller group that can help talk this problem out and will have equal representation including some folks that are for some type of control and others that just enjoy the wildlife.”

One potential discussion item, according to Mende, is considering some type of ordinance for people who are feeding the wildlife.

“We know that feeding the animals really exasperates the problem,” Mende said. “And municipalities that implement these ordinances really see a difference. But, again, looking for a solution it’s all about what the public believe is manageable. There is a myriad of ways to address this problem and it all hinges on the community’s interest and the city’s ability to tackle this problem.”

At this point, everything is on the table, Mende added.

Elsewhere across the country, city and county governments have implemented controlled bow hunts in city limits, or trapping programs that capture and relocate the deer to lesser populated areas.

“Some type of short-range weapon hunt is pretty untenable,” Mende said. “Some cities have tried specific groups that are empowered whether it’s off-duty law enforcement or Fish and Game officials but they aren’t always successful. And the idea of trapping and transporting animals in large numbers can result in 50 to 60 percent mortality. Then the question arises of where do you put them.”

Though it’s unknown whether the increasing populations is a result of damaged habitat from the 2012 Charlotte Fire or if the increase in deer-related accidents is attributed to the new South Valley Connector, but as one resident said, “over time, generations have taught us that it’s a lot easier for us to adjust to the wildlife than force the wildlife to adjust to us.”

“After the meeting, it’s obvious that people feel strongly about deer in Pocatello, one way or another,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. “There were many different ideas presented by residents that address the deer population and I look forward to hearing what recommendations the task force will have as we go forward.”

The walls shake violently and a rumbling sound — much like an airplane engine whirling overhead — threatens to rip apart the ceiling of your home or office.

Outside, the ground shifts leaving monstrous pits in the earth, from which fervid flames erupt into the night sky overwhelming flashing lights from emergency response vehicles. Homes, bridges and businesses, many of which had lasted generations, crumble.

Welcome to Southeast Idaho’s great earthquake. Though this imagined scenario leaves many wondering “what if,” what people should be asking is when.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), it’s more than 63 percent likely that over the next 50 years a 6.0 magnitude or higher earthquake will hit Southeast Idaho near the Bear Lake Fault.

And any earthquake greater than 5.0 on the Richter scale could cause over $250 million dollars in damage to structures, roads and bridges in the counties of Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin and Oneida, according to earthquake simulation data analyzed by Bengal Solutions, a business consulting team out of Idaho State University’s College of Business.

“We don’t think that it will be 50 years from now, it could be, but it could also happen tomorrow,” said Dan Cravens, director of Bengal Solutions. “We just don’t know. But we do know that the effect of a major earthquake will be very, very significant.”

The Idaho Office of Emergency Management asked Bengal Solutions to study the economic impact of a major earthquake in the counties of Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin and Oneida.

These counties were selected because of their proximity to the Bear Lake Fault and the substantial number of older buildings, much like those found in Wells, Nevada.

In 2008, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the rural northern Nevada community of Wells. A total of 700 buildings in the town of 1,600 residences suffered damage. Overall, the monetary damage in Wells was millions of dollars, and the community never fully recovered, Cravens said.

The damage from the initial shockwave is just the beginning, however, with additional economic damages likely to follow. These would result from subsequent interruptions because of transportation delays, business closures and residents leaving the community.

“An earthquake’s worst damage often comes after the incident itself,” Cravens said. “Aftershocks of a magnitude close to that of the major quake do additional damage to buildings, utilities and infrastructure. Economically, the community comes to a standstill. As we see from the 2008 Wells, Nevada, earthquake, many businesses close, people leave the community and the community all too often lacks the ability to fully recover.”

Last month, the Bengal Solutions team presented its findings to Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little.

“This information is helpful and will help me to ask the right questions of state agencies,” Little said. “The data provided will help our state better protect and serve the citizens of Southeast Idaho potentially effected by earthquakes.”

Hassan Afzal, a graduate student involved with the study, said the data collected will help county commissioners prepare grant requests to secure additional funding for earthquake preparedness.

“This experience has been so fulfilling and rewarding because we are actually doing something that will make a difference,” Afzal said. “This is an opportunity to leave a legacy in this region, and this study could literally help save lives and businesses in this community.”

A large earthquake has the potential to completely isolate some of the smaller communities in Southeast Idaho, destroying gas lines, cellphone towers and power poles and transformers.

“The sooner we prepare for an earthquake, the better and higher level of security and safety we can provide to citizens of Southeast Idaho,” Cravens said. “By providing the information and the tools that allow our county and state governments to respond, we have a higher chance of limiting the damage caused by these earthquakes.”

On Thursday, Hassan and the Bengal Solutions team will present these findings at the Wasatch Wobble, an event that starts at 8 a.m. in the Little Wood River Room in ISU’s Pond Student Union. The event incorporates multiple agencies from around the region that will disseminate the information to the four targeted counties.

In addition to the study conducted by the Bengal Solutions team, Southeastern Idaho Public Health and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management conducted a full-scale earthquake exercise throughout Southeastern Idaho on Wednesday.

The scenario focused on the transition from response to recovery after a hypothetical 6.2 earthquake struck near Logan, Utah, causing death, injury and infrastructure damage.

Devin Hughes, a health liaison with Southeastern Idaho Public Health, said the exercise focused on mobilizing recovery teams in affected areas after the initial shock and dust has settled.

The exercise included two Public Health medical shelters set up at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Preston. It also featured additional assistance with the American Red Cross to establish a Multi-Agency Resource Center at the fire station in Malad.

“The nice thing about a drill is we can take a step back and assess what’s going on,” Hughes said. “We’re able to talk about the strengths and weaknesses, and establish a plan with a real-life event when stress levels are much higher.”

Both Cravens and Hughes quoted Benjamin Franklin saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

And as far as preparing for an earthquake in Southeast Idaho goes, that quote rings true because it’s not a matter of “what if,” it’s a matter of when.

Colin Joyce was a top finisher in the second stage at the Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal, a five-day race in February. During the next day, the professional cyclist from Pocatello was coughing up blood after flying over the handlebars during a crowded downhill sprint to the finish.

“People were fighting for position and elbowing each other out of the way trying to get to the front,” Joyce said. “We were moving pretty fast and all the sudden I find myself flying over the bars.”

Joyce knew right away that he hadn’t broken anything, but he rose from the tangled wreckage coughing up a fair amount of blood.

“Everything ended up being totally fine, just a bruised lung,” Joyce said. “That all subsided in about a week though.”

Much like the pavement beneath the tires, professional bicycle racing can be full of ups and downs, twists and turns and highs and lows.

At 14, Joyce’s father and close family friend, Sam Krieg, introduced him to the sport. Joyce grew up playing soccer and saw cycling as another avenue for outdoor exercise. As he continued to excel every year on the bike, he put his education on hold at Idaho State University to pursue cycling to his best abilities.

“I love the whole sport in general and everything that goes with it, from traveling to living an active lifestyle,” Joyce said. “But probably the main reason I love cycling is how much you can push your body.”

Joyce, now in his ninth professional cycling season, is riding with Rally Cycling. Last year, Joyce was one of 16 riders on the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team, which consists of cyclists between the ages of 19 and 22.

“It’s a similar level than where I was at last year and will be a good move for me to help step in the right direction moving forward,” Joyce said.

He finished in 16th of 190 cyclists at the Under 23 UCI World Road Race Championships in Doha, Qatar last year.

But because of his age, Joyce could no longer ride with his previous team.“Lately I’ve just been training, traveling and racing,” Joyce said. “I had a fun offseason, relaxed and enjoyed time off the bike. I went to Southern California for the month of January and was training there and spent the month of February mostly in Europe.”

The spring race season is about to start, which will continue through mid-September. Though he completes most of the training throughout the winter, Joyce said he tries to keep up between races, too.

“I view every race as an opportunity to keep developing, learning and continue racing to win for the team,” he said. “I am hoping to ride well at Pro Nationals at the end of June.”

Most recently, he was preparing for a four-day stage race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This will be his first time racing there, despite traveling to Europe for the first time at 16 and cycling in over 15 different countries, including the Bahamas, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.

In terms of the ride itself, Joyce said he doesn’t really have a favorite aspect. It all ebbs and flows throughout the race.

“The jostling and fighting for position can be fun and other times you end up hitting the deck really hard,” he said. “But crossing scenarios or climbs are fun, too. It all has its ups and downs. Getting dropped on big climbs is not all that fun.”

With some riders being great at attacking big climbs, they get up there rather quickly, Joyce said, adding that when they leave other racers behind, those involved with the sport call it ‘dropping.’

In addition to physical endurance, cycling requires a tough mind to compete a successful level professionally.

“A lot of the sport is mental, actually,” Joyce said. “You have to try and remain positive. You have to see it like there will always be more chances the next day, the next week or even on the next climb.”

As someone who lives and trains in Pocatello, Joyce said it’s unfortunate that he sticks to the pavement, and doesn’t ride trails as often.

“I don’t really get out too much on a mountain bike, which is dumb of me,” he said. “I’ve been out on occasion and I know the trails in Pocatello are pretty amazing. My favorite trail when I do go is the 911 trail up City Creek. That one is super-fun and has the roller coaster type feel to it.”

He continued, “And they made that new Sterling and Justice a few years ago. That’s a good connection from Gibson Jack over to City Creek. Unfortunately, when I’m training in Pocatello I’m out on the roads. I’ve always opted out of the trails but that’s something I should change moving forward.”

If not riding, he would probably be finishing up school at ISU. He completed two years studying exercise science before he pursued cycling full-time. But outside of that, he is content for now right where he’s at.

“I don’t really know work-wise what I would be doing,” Joyce said. “Right now, my passion is cycling and I love what I do right now. I just want to keep riding as much as I can until I don’t love it as much or until I can’t.”

Colin Joyce was a top finisher in the second stage at the Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal, a five-day race in February. During the next day, the professional cyclist from Pocatello was coughing up blood after flying over the handlebars during a crowded downhill sprint to the finish.

“People were fighting for position and elbowing each other out of the way trying to get to the front,” Joyce said. “We were moving pretty fast and all the sudden I find myself flying over the bars.”

Joyce knew right away that he hadn’t broken anything, but he rose from the tangled wreckage coughing up a fair amount of blood.

“Everything ended up being totally fine, just a bruised lung,” Joyce said. “That all subsided in about a week though.”

Much like the pavement beneath the tires, professional bicycle racing can be full of ups and downs, twists and turns and highs and lows.

At 14, Joyce’s father and close family friend, Sam Krieg, introduced him to the sport. Joyce grew up playing soccer and saw cycling as another avenue for outdoor exercise. As he continued to excel every year on the bike, he put his education on hold at Idaho State University to pursue cycling to his best abilities.

“I love the whole sport in general and everything that goes with it, from traveling to living an active lifestyle,” Joyce said. “But probably the main reason I love cycling is how much you can push your body.”

Joyce, now in his ninth professional cycling season, is riding with Rally Cycling. Last year, Joyce was one of 16 riders on the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team, which consists of cyclists between the ages of 19 and 22.

“It’s a similar level than where I was at last year and will be a good move for me to help step in the right direction moving forward,” Joyce said.

He finished in 16th of 190 cyclists at the Under 23 UCI World Road Race Championships in Doha, Qatar last year.

But because of his age, Joyce could no longer ride with his previous team.“Lately I’ve just been training, traveling and racing,” Joyce said. “I had a fun offseason, relaxed and enjoyed time off the bike. I went to Southern California for the month of January and was training there and spent the month of February mostly in Europe.”

The spring race season is about to start, which will continue through mid-September. Though he completes most of the training throughout the winter, Joyce said he tries to keep up between races, too.

“I view every race as an opportunity to keep developing, learning and continue racing to win for the team,” he said. “I am hoping to ride well at Pro Nationals at the end of June.”

Most recently, he was preparing for a four-day stage race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This will be his first time racing there, despite traveling to Europe for the first time at 16 and cycling in over 15 different countries, including the Bahamas, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.

In terms of the ride itself, Joyce said he doesn’t really have a favorite aspect. It all ebbs and flows throughout the race.

“The jostling and fighting for position can be fun and other times you end up hitting the deck really hard,” he said. “But crossing scenarios or climbs are fun, too. It all has its ups and downs. Getting dropped on big climbs is not all that fun.”

With some riders being great at attacking big climbs, they get up there rather quickly, Joyce said, adding that when they leave other racers behind, those involved with the sport call it ‘dropping.’

In addition to physical endurance, cycling requires a tough mind to compete a successful level professionally.

“A lot of the sport is mental, actually,” Joyce said. “You have to try and remain positive. You have to see it like there will always be more chances the next day, the next week or even on the next climb.”

As someone who lives and trains in Pocatello, Joyce said it’s unfortunate that he sticks to the pavement, and doesn’t ride trails as often.

“I don’t really get out too much on a mountain bike, which is dumb of me,” he said. “I’ve been out on occasion and I know the trails in Pocatello are pretty amazing. My favorite trail when I do go is the 911 trail up City Creek. That one is super-fun and has the roller coaster type feel to it.”

He continued, “And they made that new Sterling and Justice a few years ago. That’s a good connection from Gibson Jack over to City Creek. Unfortunately, when I’m training in Pocatello I’m out on the roads. I’ve always opted out of the trails but that’s something I should change moving forward.”

If not riding, he would probably be finishing up school at ISU. He completed two years studying exercise science before he pursued cycling full-time. But outside of that, he is content for now right where he’s at.

“I don’t really know work-wise what I would be doing,” Joyce said. “Right now, my passion is cycling and I love what I do right now. I just want to keep riding as much as I can until I don’t love it as much or until I can’t.”

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad and the Center of Biological Diversity recently joined the fight in pushing back against the manufacture, storage and use of M-44s — also known as cyanide bombs — on Tuesday.

Blad wrote a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Young on March 31 requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately cease the storage and manufacturing of M-44 “cyanide bombs” in Pocatello.

Plus, four conservation and animal-welfare groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, sued the Trump administration Tuesday for failing to protect endangered species from two deadly pesticides used to kill coyotes and other native carnivores.

“Safety is always a concern,” Blad said, adding that he was unaware of the use, manufacture and storage of M-44s in Pocatello prior to 14-year-old Canyon Mansfield watching his dog die after triggering a device about 300 yards from his home on Buckskin Road in Pocatello.

“We’ve asked (the USDA) to stop storing (M-44s) here and to stop manufacturing them here,” Blad said. “If the USDA is going to continue to use them, at least let’s move them outside of the city limits so that we don’t have to worry about the neighborhood and that kind of an issue.”

Pocatello Supply Depot on Second Street in Pocatello manufactures some of the cyanide devices used to control predator populations and stores them at the facility, including sodium cyanide and Compound 1080.

In July 2014, Pocatello Supply Depot transitioned from being a private company and became a fully federalized facility operated exclusively by Wildlife Services, according to documents posted to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.

The Environmental Protection Agency has registered the pesticides at issue — sodium cyanide, the poison in M-44s and Compound 1080 — for use by Wildlife Services, a division of the USDA’s Plant Health Inspection Service. And also, for use by certain state agencies in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas, according to a statement from the Center for Biological Diversity.

In 2011 the EPA began, but never finished, an analysis of how the poisons could affect threatened and endangered species. The lawsuit seeks to compel completion of that stalled process, which should lead to mitigation measures to protect imperiled wildlife.

“Cyanide bombs are indiscriminate killers,” said Collette Adkins, attorney and biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “In just the past several weeks they’ve injured a child and killed an endangered wolf and several family dogs. These dangerous pesticides need to be banned. But until then, they shouldn’t be used where they can hurt people or kill family pets and endangered wildlife.”

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, the Humane Society of the United States and the Fund for Animals, seeks common-sense measures to prevent unintended deaths from Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide used in M-44s.

These were behind the death of an endangered Oregon wolf in February, and temporarily blinded a child and killed three family dogs in two separate incidents in Idaho and Wyoming in March alone.

“The recent tragedies prove current restrictions are failing to ensure people, domestic animals and imperiled wildlife are not at risk from these dangerous and outdated tools,” said Bethany Cotton, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. “With the wide array of nonlethal, effective wildlife conflict management tools available, and the unacceptable threats these poisons pose, it is past time we end the use of cyanide M-44s and Compound 1080.”

Blad said he is requesting the USDA stop storing cyanide bombs and other toxic chemicals in Pocatello, but he is not asking them to stop their operations altogether.

“(The USDA) is an important part of our community and they’re a good neighbor quite frankly,” Blad said. “They have allowed our first responders in to do different things and different drills. I’m not interested in them leaving by any means, but I am interested in them having the cyanide bombs be removed from our community.”

Since Canyon Mansfield triggered an M-44 predator control device that spewed poison into his face and killed his dog on March 16, the child has experienced headaches, nausea and numbness, the family said last week.

“It was awfully close to city limits is what our concern is,” Blad said. “My main concern is that we have a citizen that has been affected by them and I don’t want that to happen to any other citizens. If removing them and having a different way of approaching a coyote problem is there then let’s look at that before we hurt another citizen in this way.”

In addition to the recent lawsuit, several formal petitions also surfaced last week, calling for the immediate termination and removal of all devices installed in Idaho. Mark Mansfield, the boy’s father and a local physician, filed one of the petitions directly to the White House.

And backed by a coalition of conservation and wildlife organizations, the Western Watersheds Project also spearheaded a direct formal petition addressed to Jason Suckow, western region director for USDA-Wildlife Services.

“(The USDA facility has) been here for decades, we haven’t had any issues there and I don’t have any reason to believe that we will have, but we have had one dog that has stepped on one and we have a citizen that has some effects even today from this event,” Blad said. “If we can prevent that from happening again, that’s important. We are more than welcome to have them stay and continue the work that they are doing, just remove the bombs would be appreciated.”

The exposure of toxic, cyanide poisoning to Canyon Mansfield, a 14-year-old Pocatello boy who triggered an M-44 predator control device, and subsequent petitions calling for a permanent ban has recaptured the attention of U.S. lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, has been trying to ban the indiscriminate use of lethal devices like Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide containing M-44 devices for decades. He recently introduced H.R. 1817, the Chemical Poisons Reduction Act of 2017, which seeks to permanently ban the two deadly poisons for predator control throughout the United States.

“Look, it’s indiscriminate, and there have been numerous instances of domestic dogs being killed, and I’ve said for a number of years that it’s only a matter of time until a kid is killed,” DeFazio said. “And this recent incident in Idaho where the child watched the dog die a horrible death and he was slightly exposed is a sterling example.”

These two poisons are currently used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services predator control program, which according to its own report, killed more than 1.6 million native U.S. animals in 2016.

The device that detonated in Mansfield’s face, sent him to the hospital and, ultimately, killed his dog on March 16 was an M-44. Often known as a “cyanide bomb,” it’s a device used by the USDA to prevent predators such as coyotes from harming livestock on farm and ranch lands. When triggered, the M-44 spews a potentially lethal dose of sodium cyanide powder into whoever or whatever tugs on it.

Compound 1080 is a tasteless, odorless and colorless poison with no antidote. Although the EPA banned Compound 1080 in 1972, after intense lobbying from the livestock industry, it was re-approved for use in the “Livestock Protection Collar” (collars containing the poison that are placed around the necks of sheep and burst when punctured by a predator, barbed wire, or other sharp object) in 1985. Each of these collars contains enough poison to kill six adult humans.

“Even if a sheep is predated on with a 1080 collar, subsequently any carrion-eater that feeds on that is likely to die, that means bald eagles, golden eagles or vultures,” DeFazio said. “This kind of indiscriminate killing just has no place in Wildlife Services or controlling predators that have killed livestock.”

He continued, “They kill domestic animals who are totally innocent and they kill many predators who are innocent of depredation. It’s something that should not be out there for public land, and I don’t think they should be on private land either. If private land owners want to put them out by themselves, not subsidized by the taxpayers, OK, but these devices just need to go.”

The national wildlife advocacy group Predator Defense, as well as the Humane Society, supports the new bill.

“The fact that Wildlife Services continues to state that incidents of M-44s killing domestic dogs and exposing people to poison are ‘rare’ is an outrage,” said Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense. “Those of us involved with this issue know these incidents are common-place and that countless more will never be known because of Wildlife Services’ repeated cover-ups. We applaud this legislation and thank Congressman DeFazio for his unfailing support on this issue.”

The USDA’s Wildlife Services Agency regularly uses both sodium cyanide and Compound 1080 their predator control programs, which are subsidized by taxpayers. States contract with federal predator control programs to keep so-called “predator” populations down to help ranchers protect their livestock.

“It’s high time for our own federal government to stop using sodium cyanide and Compound 1080 on our public lands,” said Wayne Pacelle, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “These two poisons are highly lethal but completely indiscriminate. They endanger children, beloved family pets, grizzly bears, wolves and bald eagles alike. And the deaths they cause are violent and inhumane.”

The use of these poisons has led to the deaths of endangered animals and domesticated dogs and has injured multiple people in the past.

Since triggering the M-44 device, Mansfield has experienced headaches, nausea and numbness, the family said Tuesday.

Several formal petitions also surfaced Tuesday, calling for the immediate termination and removal of all devices installed in Idaho by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services agency. Mark Mansfield, the boy’s father and a local physician, filed one of the petitions directly to the White House.

Backed by a coalition of conservation and wildlife organizations, the Western Watersheds Project also spearheaded a direct formal petition addressed to Jason Suckow, western region director for USDA-Wildlife Services.

An additional petition filed on the website Care2 reached more than 48,000 signatures Friday evening.

“This is something that should end,” DeFazio said. “There is no central control (for Wildlife Services). Each of the state agencies are basically an entity under themselves. Some of them are totally out of control, entering into agreements that they shouldn’t and not following the rules. It’s an agency that is out of control and very dispersed.”

Mark said that although he is new to the political process of implementing new legislation, he is hopeful for change and urges people who come across the petitions to not only sign it, but also share the information on social media as much as possible.

“I’m excited, because the bill is clean, short and precise,” Mansfield said. “There is nothing extra tied to the legislation and in my mind no reasonable human being would be against it.”

POCATELLO — After serving residents on the north side of Pocatello for six years, the Element Outfitters at 1570 Yellowstone Ave. will soon close its doors.

Currently, the store is in its first week of a location close-out sale and customers can expect to see 10 to 60 percent off all items storewide.

“It’s been crazy and lots of fun so far,” said owner Paul Gebo. “We’re just consolidating and becoming a lot more efficient.”

The primary Element Outfitters inside of the ACE Hardware at 222 S. Fifth Ave. will remain open, and the store on Yellowstone will close in the next few months after the liquidation of store inventory.

Element isn’t the only casualty of brick-and-mortar stores struggling to survive in a new e-commerce economy, with consumers turning to online avenues to complete their shopping needs.

Recently, the Vanity clothing store in the Pine Ridge Mall announced it is going out of business as well.

“We’ve also got a website called ElementOutfitters.com, and where this location (on Yellowstone) has been relatively flat, our website is growing strongly,” Gebo said.

The way consumers shop is evolving, and according to Absolunet, an e-commerce and digital marketing agency, several new trends will turn heads in the cyber-commerce community in 2017.

This includes replacing Black Friday and Cyber Monday with Cyber November — an entire month dedicated to blockbuster sales. Also, Absolunet predicts carrying a wallet could soon become something of the past, as mobile, wearables and other payment-enabled tech usher in the beginning of the end for the need to constantly carry cash.

And no longer do pre-recorded, unintelligent customer service voice representatives prevent consumers from engaging in digital purchases, with many businesses and retailers saying hello to artificial intelligence in which smart voice-reps are capable of understanding complex sentences.

“In 2015, online sales of physical goods amounted to 294.45 billion US dollars and are projected to surpass 485 billion US dollars in 2021 (and) apparel and accessories retail e-commerce in the U.S. is projected to generate a hundred billion U.S. dollars in revenue by 2019,” according to Statista, an online statistics company.

In addition to the Element Outfitters secondary storefront closing, the Thai Zap food truck owned by Mam Phranasith will also find another location to set up shop once the store closes.

“They are going to land somewhere good for them where there’s a good amount of traffic,” Gebo said. “I wish they would move into ACE because I love the food so much.”

Closing the secondary store will allow Element Outfitters to be more helpful out of the ACE location and improve inventory levels.

“Rather than trying to stock two stores, we can focus on one and we will be a much more fiscally strong store, both for our website and the people in town,” Gebo said. “This is a win-win and we’re excited.”

The store is essentially an REI on steroids, Gebo added. They sell beer, wine, guns, ammo, camping and outdoor sporting goods.

“We sell pretty much everything,” Gebo said. “And I would like to express my gratitude for the staff who have worked with us over the years. We offered to move any employee over to the ACE location, and most of them are going to take us up on that offer. We’re not laying anyone off, which is exciting to me because we have a really great store out here.”

He continued, “And certainly, we thank all of the customers on the north end of Pocatello who’ve supported this store. It’s certainly been a blessing, and we hope they dive south to see us.”

POCATELLO — Since triggering an M-44 predator control device that spewed poison into 14-year-old Pocatello resident Canyon Mansfield’s face and killed his dog on March 16, the child has experienced headaches, nausea and numbness, the family said Tuesday.

Several formal petitions also surfaced Tuesday, calling for the immediate termination and removal of all devices installed in Idaho by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services agency. Mark Mansfield, the boy’s father and a local physician, filed one of the petitions directly to the White House.

“The USDA maintains they resolve conflict between wildlife and people ‘in the safest and most humane ways possible,’ but the nature of the cyanide bomb is neither safe nor humane,” Mark wrote in the petition. “Cyanide gas has been used throughout history to murder masses of people.”

Backed by a coalition of conservation and wildlife organizations, the Western Watersheds Project also spearheaded a direct formal petition addressed to Jason Suckow, western region director for USDA-Wildlife Services.

“Clearly, it is unsafe and immoral for Wildlife Services to use these poisonous land mines to target native wildlife for killing on lands of any ownership,” Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, said in a statement. “Our petition calls upon Wildlife Services to take action to eliminate these brutal and indiscriminate chemical weapons before more kids and pets get hurt.”

An additional petition filed on the website Care2 reached more than 30,000 signatures Tuesday evening.

Theresa Mansfield, Canyon’s mother, said that although the family is a little less heartbroken over the death of their dog, it’s been overwhelming dealing with the petitions and political pressure to prevent other families from experiencing similar circumstances.

“We’re still in shock that this has happened,” Theresa said. “Like, someone put a loaded gun on the top of my hill. Someone planted a bomb right out in my backyard, and the federal government makes it so that this is okay. I see this as murder.”

Molvar said that unlike petitions on the internet, which are good for demonstrating substantial amounts of public support behind a movement, the formal document from the Western Watersheds Project falls under the Administrative Procedures Act, which carries a legal requirement for the agency to provide a written response.

“If the USDA fails to respond to the (Administrative Procedures Act) petition in a reasonable time, which, based on case law, could be a couple years, the petitioner has the right to litigate,” Molvar said. “If the agency is found in violation of that law, it could lead to other consequences potentially.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an emailed statement to the Journal on March 17 that “the unintentional lethal take of a dog is a rare occurrence,” but have not returned multiple requests since the initial release.

“This incident is exactly why extremely dangerous M-44 cyanide bombs, or other indiscriminate killing tools like traps and poisons, should not be placed on our public lands,” said Michelle Lute, wildlife coexistence campaigner for WildEarth Guardians. “It would be a mistake to call this tragedy an accident. It’s not an accident if federal employees are knowingly placing deadly devices where children and companion animals play; that’s extreme and inexcusable negligence.”

Theresa said the area where her son came across the M-44 is a hill that overlooks houses with barking dogs and children playing. From where the location of the M-44s — commonly referred to as “cyanide bombs” because of the spring-activated trigger typically smeared with bait that shoots cyanide into an animal’s mouth when it tugs on the device — onlookers can see the Mansfield family swing set.

The conservation groups united in calling the killing of native wildlife “morally reprehensible,” and pointed to the absence of any scientific basis for lethal control of native predators.

“Cyanide bombs are indiscriminate killers that must be banned,” said Andrea Santarsiere, 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. And in just the past few weeks these cruel devices have injured a child and killed an endangered wolf and several family dogs. Enough is enough.”

Earlier in 2017, an M-44 killed a wolf in northeastern Oregon despite an agreement with state agencies that these types of lethal devices not be set in areas where wolves are known to roam.

In November, Wildlife Services responded to pressure from conservation groups by publishing a decision that prevented the use of M-44s on public lands. However, the device that killed the Mansfield family’s 3-year-old Labrador retriever, Casey, and injured Canyon were installed on Bureau of Land Management land in February.

“It’s a fact that it was installed on BLM land,” said Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Neilsen. “It was about 300 yards from the residence and there were no posted warning signs at the time this happened. All three of those are violations of the protocol.”

It’s unclear how the USDA worker who planted the devices ended up on BLM land.

The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation and forwarded it to the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, where officials will determine if the incident constitutes criminal charges.

The conservation organizations also pointed out the long history of unintentional killing of pets and injuries to people that have resulted from the accidental triggering of M-44s in residential areas and on public lands. And in a recent documentary, former Wildlife Services employees made public statements regarding the agency’s repeated and habitual flouting of regulations and common-sense safety practices.

“Since 2000, Wildlife Services has killed more than 50,000 members of more than 150 non-target species,” according to the Western Watersheds Project formal petition.

The employee with the Wildlife Services division who installed the M-44s near the Mansfields’ home has been identified. The USDA has not said why he installed the devices on unauthorized land.

It’s a mystery how Canyon survived, according to Mark, adding that his son’s exposure was so intense compared to others because unlike many other situations, it was Canyon, not the dog, that triggered the device.

“We’re working the medical side of things and there’s stuff that we’re dealing with,” Mark said. “He’s having problems, headaches, coughing, and nausea, but we’re pushing through it.”

POCATELLO — As he walked his dog along the ridgeline of the hillside just south of his family’s home on West Buckskin Road, 14-year-old Canyon Mansfield noticed what he thought was a sprinkler head protruding 6 inches from the ground.

Like many curious teenagers would, he bent down and touched the pipe, which erupted with a loud popping noise that knocked Canyon off his feet. A hissing sound ensued and Canyon noticed his clothing and face were covered with an orange, powdery substance. After quickly washing his face and clothes in a nearby patch of snow, he called for his dog, a 3-year-old Lab named Casey.

But Canyon’s best friend didn’t respond.

“He just stayed on the ground mumbling,” Canyon said. “I thought he was playing with his toy, but I saw the toy a couple yards away from him. … So, I called him again and got really scared. I sprinted toward him and landed on my knees and saw this red froth coming from his mouth and his eyes turning glassy and he was having a seizure.”

Within minutes, Casey was dead.

“My little brother is lying in bed crying next to me,” said Canyon’s sister, Madison Mansfield. “He spent yesterday in the emergency room after stumbling upon an unmarked cyanide bomb in the woods directly behind my home. He watched his best friend suffocate as sodium cyanide was deposited in his mouth.”

Canyon was taken to Portneuf Medical Center, where he was treated and released. But he must continue daily follow-up appointments to check toxicity levels.

On Thursday afternoon, Casey joined thousands of other non-targeted animals — both wild and domestic — that have been mistakenly killed by one of the most lethal tools at the disposal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture — spring-loaded metal cylinders that are baited with scent that shoot sodium cyanide powder into the mouth or face of whatever or whoever touches them.

Known as M-44 devices, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) division of the USDA deploys these sodium cyanide capsules throughout the West to protect livestock from coyotes, wild dogs, and red and gray foxes.

M-44s are hollow metal tubes 5 to 7 inches long that are driven into the ground, loaded with 0.9 grams of sodium cyanide and coated with the smelliest bait possible.

Though the devices are legal methods of controlling local predators, the legality regarding the manner in which the device that killed Casey was planted remains under investigation.

On Friday, APHIS released the following statement regarding the incident:

“APHIS’ Wildlife Services confirms the unintentional lethal take of a dog in Idaho. As a program made up of individual employees many of whom are pet owners, Wildlife Services understands the close bonds between people and their pets and sincerely regrets such losses. Wildlife Services has removed M-44s in that immediate area. Wildlife Services is completing a thorough review of the circumstances of this incident, and will work to review our operating procedures to determine whether improvements can be made to reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences happening in the future.”

The spokesman for APHIS, R. Andre Bell, said in a Friday statement that “the unintentional lethal take of a dog is a rare occurrence (and Wildlife Services) posts signs and issues other warnings to alert pet owners when wildlife traps or other devices are being used in an area for wildlife damage management.”

The statement also said that M-44 devices are only set at the request of and with permission from property owners or managers, and that this is the first unintentional take of an animal with an M-44 device in Idaho since 2014.

“The USDA’s statement regarding the horrific incident that happened to my family yesterday is both disrespectful and inaccurate,” Madison said. “The USDA intentionally refers to the brutal killing of our dog as a ‘take’ to render his death trivial and insignificant.”

She continued, “They also claim that the killing of an unintended victim is a rare occurrence, but this is entirely untrue. In fact, this issue is nationally recognized due to the lack of selectivity of cyanide bombs, and there have been many reported incidents in which unintended animals and people have been targeted.”

On March 11 near Casper, Wyoming, a national nonprofit advocacy organization called Predator Defense reported that two families out on a hiking trip, including an 8-year-old girl, watched two of their four canine companions die after uncovering unmarked cyanide devices.

When deploying these “cyanide bombs,” applicators must adhere to several guidelines that include requesting permission from the landowners and posting warning signs in both Spanish and English.

However, Canyon said he did not see any posted signs.

“The guy that planted them there said he got consent,” Canyon said. “And he said he put signs up but I would have noticed it because I go up there all the time.”

There were no obvious warning signs, according to Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen, but as of Friday afternoon, his deputies were still investigating.

“The trapper that set those for the federal government did show up, we were able to interview him and he has disarmed those that are in that area, and hopefully the rest of the county,” Nielsen said.

The identity of the individual who set the cyanide traps could not be confirmed as of Friday afternoon, but Nielsen did confirm the individual is an employee of APHIS.

The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office believes the incident happened on Bureau of Land Management land south of the Mansfield’s property. However, the BLM said Friday the incident did not happen on its land. 

“I’ve been sheriff for 20-plus years and I have never heard of these before,” Nielsen said about the cyanide bombs. “It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to have a landmine-type device that disperses cyanide gas.”

Cyanide is notoriously known as one of the fastest-acting poisons to ever exist. Yet it’s so uncommon that the Bannock County Sheriff’s deputies, Canyon’s father, Mark, who is a local doctor, and the doctor at the emergency room didn’t immediately know how to handle the situation.

The poison works by binding to hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. It then prevents the cells from using oxygen to make energy molecules. Essentially, cyanide suffocates the victim exposed to it from the inside out.

“Not only is cyanide unethical, the antidote is highly ineffective and can rarely be administered in time to treat it,” Madison said. “My dog suffered as he struggled for breath while my brother stood helplessly nearby. This is not humane, and no animal, dog or coyote should ever be killed in such a gruesome manner.”

APHIS agency records show that more than 3,400 animals have been mistakenly killed by M-44s between 2006 and 2012. These include black bears, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, ravens, ringtails, red fox, gray fox, kit fox, swift fox, turkey vultures and dogs, according to the Sacramento Bee.

At least 18 employees and several members of the public have also been exposed to cyanide over the past 25 years. None died, but many were treated for nausea, blurred vision and other symptoms, the Sacramento Bee reported.

“The placement of these unmarked devices in a residential area without notifying the families and the authorities is grossly negligent,” Madison said. “The individual who placed the bombs is most certainly not ‘highly-trained’ as the USDA claims. If he was, he would have noticed the homes clearly beneath him and this tragedy could have been easily avoided.”

Some of the cyanide devices used to control predator populations are manufactured at Pocatello Supply Depot in Pocatello.

In July 2014, Pocatello Supply Depot transitioned from being a private company and became a fully federalized facility operated exclusively by Wildlife Services, according to documents posted to APHIS’s website.

Canyon’s mother, Theresa Mansfield, said she wants to make the public aware of this situation and doesn’t want to see another pet or child put in danger.

“This is horrific,” Theresa said. “This is like terrorism in my backyard.”