Ottawa has approved the controlled and temporary emergency utilization of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to combat significant damage caused by an infestation of Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly known as gophers.
Both provinces resubmitted a revised, joint emergency-use plea to Health Canada last week following the rejection of an earlier proposal by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in February, aiming to address concerns regarding risks to various wildlife species posed by the substance.
Health Canada disclosed that the approved request from the provinces included additional restrictions and measures to diminish the environmental impact of the rodent poison to an acceptable level, thus authorizing its use until November 2027 under an emergency registration.
“This announcement is a major victory for Prairie producers,” stated RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, expressing satisfaction with the decision.
Farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been advocating for the reinstatement of strychnine to manage increasing populations of Richardson’s ground squirrels, which pose a threat to various crops. The liquid form of strychnine was a primary solution for gopher control on farms before the federal government phased out its use in 2020 and eventually banned it in 2024 due to environmental concerns.
David Marit, Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture, emphasized the challenges faced by producers in managing gopher populations and welcomed the emergency use authorization as a practical solution to protect crops and pastures from further harm.
Wade Nelson, a farmer from High River, Alberta, highlighted the devastating impact of gophers on agricultural lands and expressed support for the reintroduction of strychnine, underscoring the lack of viable alternatives for effective pest management. He called for an extension of the authorization period, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating the safe and efficient use of the product.
Nelson emphasized the significance of proving the safe and effective use of strychnine to ensure continued access to the product beyond the authorized period.
