Ottawa is temporarily restoring access to strychnine in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan to help control Richardson ground squirrel infestations.
The federal government said in a release Tuesday it will allow controlled use of 2% liquid strychnine until November 2027 after the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan submitted a revised, joint emergency-use request.
An earlier request submitted by the same two provinces was initially rejected by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency in February.
The updated request included tighter safeguards meant to reduce environmental risks to an acceptable level, including a narrower geographic scope, expanded monitoring, carcass collection and disposal rules, mandatory training and a revised stewardship program.
Officials said abnormally dry Prairie conditions helped fuel a sharp increase in Richardson ground squirrel populations, worsening damage to farmland and threatening a wide range of crops.
In Saskatchewan, the emergency authorization will apply only to selected areas in roughly seven crop districts across the southwest, southeast, south central and northwest parts of the province. Those districts were chosen using crop insurance claims data and information on species at risk.
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said producers had made clear they were struggling to control gophers with currently available tools, while farm groups and commodity organizations welcomed the move as a practical step to limit further losses.
Supporters said the temporary approval gives farmers and ranchers access to an effective management option while maintaining tighter environmental protections than in the past.
"Richardson's ground squirrels are causing real damage for Saskatchewan farmers, and producers need effective, responsible tools to manage them," SaskOilseeds Research Manager Doug Heath said. "This time-limited, tightly controlled emergency registration gives farmers access to an important option, while ensuring strong safeguards are in place for the environment and species at risk."
Click here to see more...