The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) wants strychnine to be re-instated so farmers can use it to deal with the rising population of Richardson ground squirrels (RGS).
Strychnine is an animal toxicant, or poison, used as a predacide to kill predators such as wolves, coyotes, and black bears when paired with meat bait, as well as skunks when used with egg bait, says Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Its typically used to protect livestock, vulnerable wildlife such as Woodland Caribou, and people.
The PMRA banned all uses of strychnine in March 2024 following public consultation and a re-valuation process. In a summary of its decision, which can found on the federal government’s website, one reason was the increased risk of secondary poisoning – other animals feeding on carcasses that have been exposed to strychnine. Another was the belief that the ban will have a low impact on pest management since there are alternatives products and methods available.
Richardson ground squirrels are considered to be pests by creating borrowing holes in cropland and pasture land that can result in injury to livestock and crop damage. There is also a financial impact with rising costs and increasing crop insurance payouts.
In a news release from SARM, Provincial Specialist of Insect/Pest Management with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. James Tansey, says, “Richardson’s ground squirrels are native to the prairies and consume a variety of plant species, nuts, grains, seeds, and insects. Although RGS burrowing can have positive effects on nutrient cycling and plant species diversity, and they are important prey to many birds and animals, large populations can be very damaging to crop, forage, and livestock production.”
Acting President of SARM Bill Huber says many areas have struggled to deal with the growing number of RGS. They have used alternatives but Huber says nothing works better than strychnine.
“This is a time consuming thing to poison gophers,” says Huber, “you got to bait every hole…and producers when they do that, they want something that’s going to work – they don’t to go back out to their field or their crops and see gophers running around that haven’t been controlled after doing that.”
Huber says cost-shared programs SARM administers, such as the Gopher Control Program (GCP), have been fully utilized, but it hasn’t been enough to fully control RGS.
SARM wants the provincial government to use the Saskatchewan First Act to re-instate the use of strychnine for RGS. Huber believes it can be done.
“We’ve talked to (provincial government officials) a bit before and you know they’re not real aggressive to do it, but I think with some explanation and dialogue with the Minister of Agriculture and some of the staff, I feel hopeful we could do it.”
Huber noted a study in the Maple Creek area led by Tansey. Huber claims the study showed “strychnine is really, really safe” with “zero secondary kills”. Huber adds the results were shown to PMRA during SARM’s annual meeting with federal officials but they didn’t seem to “get the message”.
“The concerning thing is they never really have anybody really come out here and look at the devastation,” Huber added of the damage Richardson Ground Squirrels can do.
Lobbying for its use again was a resolution passed at last year’s Annual Convention and SARM will have more information about the topic at this year’s Convention on March 11. Huber says its use has been an off-again, on-again issue for years.
