After facing significant delays, the official strychnine use window in Alberta and Saskatchewan was finally opened on Wednesday. Farmers are now permitted to utilize the controversial rodenticide to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly referred to as gophers, until September 1. However, challenges arise due to limited quantities and concerns regarding the product’s efficacy at this late stage of the year.
Strychnine was granted controlled and time-limited emergency use in Alberta and Saskatchewan after extensive lobbying by these provinces, subsequent to its Health Canada ban two years ago due to environmental hazards. The Alberta government highlights that gopher infestations in the province pose a risk of over $800 million annually to hay and pastures.
Under the Pest Control Products Act, the emergency use authorization allows producers in Alberta and Saskatchewan to employ strychnine until November 2027, albeit restricted to specific seasonal periods. Unfortunately, the anticipated spring application window from March 1 to June 15 was missed due to supply chain challenges faced by Agromax, the sole authorized manufacturer of strychnine in Canada.
Although the product is now available to eligible municipalities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, demand surpasses supply in many cases. Some municipalities like Wheatland County and Flagstaff County are resorting to lottery systems to allocate strychnine to producers. Conversely, the Municipal District of Wainwright announced its decision not to provide strychnine this year due to the lateness in the season and extremely limited product availability.
According to Wainwright’s agricultural fieldman Shelby Oracheski, the optimal time to use such products is before the spring green-up, as bait becomes less attractive when alternative food sources emerge. She mentioned that despite 71 producers completing the necessary strychnine training, inquiries have diminished due to concerns about its effectiveness at this time of the year. The aim is to reserve the strychnine for next year to allow producers a full season of use.
There is a possibility of advocating for an extension of the special use approval for another year, viewing the current season somewhat as a “write-off.” Alexandre Bergeron, spokesperson for the federal minister of health, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and the agricultural sector responsibly.
Despite the opening of the strychnine window, concerns persist regarding the environmental impact of the substance. Strychnine, previously a predominant gopher control solution in Alberta and Saskatchewan, was phased out by the federal government in 2020 and eventually banned in 2024 due to environmental risks. Conservation specialist Ruiping Luo warned about the adverse effects on the ecosystem, highlighting the potential impact on predators and unintended consequences like the deaths of dogs.
While the new strychnine program introduces stringent requirements and environmental protocols, Luo criticized the decision for lacking sufficient scientific evidence despite known risks. She suggested exploring alternatives for gopher control, including legal pesticides, fumigation, and encouraging predator activity by providing nesting sites for raptors. Additionally, promoting tall vegetation growth and managing livestock grazing practices can help deter gopher colonies from forming.
