SARM calls for reversal of ban on strychnine pesticide for ground squirrels

There is a little critter causing big headaches for farmers and producers in Saskatchewan.

According to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), landowners have been struggling to keep up with the growing population of Richardson’s ground squirrels (RGS), also commonly referred to as gophers, after a federal ban on the pesticide strychnine that began on on Sept. 7, 2024.

“We’re asking the provincial government to use the Saskatchewan First Act to reintroduce the use of strychnine specifically for gopher control,” said Bill Huber, president of SARM.

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Huber didn’t have an exact population number for the ground squirrels but said he has heard from many producers that it’s a growing issue.

He said canola is especially vulnerable to gophers.

“When this crop is emerging it’s a lush little plant, same as spring wheat and oats, and they (ground squirrels) can clean off hundreds of acres in municipalities within days,” Huber said.

Huber said his son even ran into problems on the family farm with the ground squirrels. His farm suffered major canola losses. (980 CJME file photo)

Study showed few secondary kills, SARM says

He estimates the critters have cost crop insurance companies hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in losses.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) banned strychnine mainly because of its harmful effects on wildlife, companion animals and other animals that were accidentally poisoned.

Environmental groups have long pointed to the threat that strychnine-laced carcasses pose to all kinds of wildlife, not just the target species.

Huber said this isn’t the case, according to a study done in the RM of Maple Creek in 2019.

“The results of that study showed very few secondary kills from using strychnine for the control of gophers,” he said.

“Producers are pretty safe and environmentally conscious of different things. They use it properly. They read the label instructions and follow all the guidelines.”

A sign advising residents of gopher control measures in a Regina park. (980 CJME file photo)

To counter the effects of damaging populations, the Gopher Control Program administered by SARM was initiated. This program includes rebates for gopher control products and non-chemical control methods like raptor platforms. (980 CJME file photo)

Strychnine ‘one of the worst ways to die’

Strychnine has been used for decades to control animal pests, especially predators such as coyotes and wolves. Although it is highly effective, many consider it cruel.

Strychnine kills by causing muscle cramps that eventually strangle the animal. A veterinary professor has called it “one of the worst ways to die.”

Huber said there are alternatives that farmers have been using, but they aren’t as effective and cost more.

“If we’re going to use a product to control them, it’s nice to have something that works,” he said. “If it works great, you don’t bother going back and looking at it, but if it doesn’t then you’re back out there with something else and trampling your field.

“Farmers and ranchers are pretty adamant that strychnine is the product that works the best.”

He also said that poisoning gophers is a long process, so farmers want to see efficient results.

“When you do that and spend that time — our time is valuable — we like to see some pretty good control … and we’re not seeing that from some of these other products,” Huber said.

Sask. First Act seen as possible solution

SARM wants the provincial government to use The Saskatchewan First Act to reintroduce the use of strychnine specifically for gopher control.

The Act amends the province’s constitution to assert Saskatchewan’s “exclusive” jurisdiction when it comes to legislation around the exploration for development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural resources in Saskatchewan; the development, conservation and management of forestry resources in Saskatchewan; and the operation of facilities in Saskatchewan that generate electricity.

The Act also asserts Saskatchewan’s jurisdiction around the regulation of businesses within those confines, the regulation of fertilizer use in Saskatchewan, and “any other prescribed matter.”

“This is something that we’re going to try,” Huber said. “We’re exploring it now and then we’re asking the provincial government to consider this.”

He said SARM will be meeting the provincial Ministry of Agriculture in the next few weeks to discuss this further.

Provincial government disappointed with de-registration

In a statement from the Government of Saskatchewan, it said it was disappointed with the ban on strychnine for Richardson’s ground squirrel control.

“We believe the science indicates that this product, when used according to label instructions, is effective and presents the best option for controlling RGS populations in the province and mitigating the significant impacts on agriculture operations,” the statement read.

The Ministry of Agriculture did submit a notice of objection when the ban was announced, but it did not prompt any changes to the federal decision.

The statement also echoed Huber’s statements of also hearing concerns from producers about the efficiency of alternatives.

“Upon investigation, two such products performed as well as strychnine while also being more cost-effective, but timing is critical for these products as baits must be used before spring green-up,” the government said.

“Growers must consider ground squirrel control to be a top priority in spring.”

Health Canada says risks not acceptable

In a statement provided to 980 CJME, Health Canada said the environmental risks associated with the use of strychnine for the control of gophers were not acceptable when the product was used according to label directions.

“The evaluation confirmed that there are risks of concern for non-target organisms, including species at risk,” the statement said.

Health Canada said it recognized the value of strychnine in its decision, noting its “ease of use, cost effectiveness and management of RGS in a single feeding” but said that while alternative pest control products “may have some limitations compared to strychnine, they were effective against the target pest during the scientific review that led to their registration.”

— with files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick and The Canadian Press

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