Ottawa gives permission for emergency use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to deal with gopher infestation

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency had stopped the use of strychnine two years ago.

Ottawa has decided to allow the controlled and temporary emergency use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to address the significant damage, worth millions of dollars, caused by an infestation of Richardson's ground squirrels, which are commonly known as gophers.

Last week, Alberta and Saskatchewan submitted a revised joint request for emergency use to Health Canada, after their initial proposal was rejected by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in February.

Two years ago, the agency had banned the use of strychnine, citing the risks it poses to other wildlife species, including species-at-risk such as the swift fox and burrowing owl, which might consume the poisoned carcasses.

The provinces' approved request included additional restrictions and measures to mitigate the environmental risks associated with the rodent poison, reducing them to an acceptable level, according to a news release issued by Health Canada on Monday.

RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's minister of agriculture and irrigation, expressed his enthusiasm on X, saying, 'This is incredible news for producers across the Prairies.'

'This is a huge win for our agriculture industry, ensuring our producers have the necessary tools to better manage their operations and continue providing high-quality products,' he added.

Under the Pest Control Products Act, Ottawa is authorizing the two provinces to register strychnine under an emergency registration, which will be valid until November 2027.

Farmers across Alberta and Saskatchewan have been advocating for the opportunity to use strychnine again to manage the growing populations of Richardson's ground squirrels, which target a variety of crops.

Prior to the federal government's decision to phase out its use in 2020, and its subsequent ban in 2024 due to environmental risks, strychnine in two per cent liquid form was the primary solution for gopher control on farms in the two provinces.

David Marit, Saskatchewan's minister of agriculture, stated in a news release, 'Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing gophers with the limited tools currently available.'

'We are pleased to see the emergency use request granted as a practical opportunity for producers to demonstrate how strychnine can help protect their crops and pastures from continued damage,' he added.

Wade Nelson, a farmer near High River, Alta., reported that 170 acres of his canola crops were destroyed by a gopher infestation and welcomed the government's decision to authorize the emergency use of strychnine.

'It's been a really big issue for us and for many in our community, as well as across Alberta and Saskatchewan... I mean, they're just a devastating problem for us,' he said.

'It's been a really big struggle. Losing strychnine as an effective tool was difficult to accept. There isn't another logical, safe alternative for managing gophers, which is why this is a great thing to have,' Nelson explained.

Nelson expressed his desire to see the authorization extended beyond 2027.

He hopes that producers, working with municipalities, can prove 'that we can use this product safely and effectively, so we don't have to constantly worry about whether or not we'll be able to continue using it.'

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