The Wildlife Services program in Grant County will no longer be allowed to use leg-hold traps and M44 cyanide canisters as wildlife management tools, provided an amendment approved by the County Commission on Thursday is accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Under the USDA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — APHIS — administers the controversial Wildlife Services program primarily for the benefit of ranchers, who rely on the program to help control predators that threaten their livestock.

District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne made the motion to amend the language in the county’s Wildlife Services agreement and, as commissioners discussed the pros and cons of the lethal methods, Browne and District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards carefully described why they felt those traps and canisters should not be used. 

Browne cited the example of a nighttime search-and-rescue mission he…