After facing significant delays, the authorized period for using strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan officially commenced on Wednesday. Farmers are now permitted to utilize the controversial rodenticide to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly known 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.
Health Canada had banned strychnine two years ago due to environmental risks, but following extensive lobbying efforts by Alberta and Saskatchewan, the provinces were granted controlled and time-limited emergency use of the substance. The Alberta government estimates that gopher infestations pose a yearly risk of over $800 million to hay and pastures in the province.
Under the Pest Control Products Act, producers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are permitted to use strychnine until November 2027, but it can only be applied during specific seasonal windows. The anticipated spring application window, from March 1 to June 15, was missed due to supply chain issues faced by Agromax, the sole authorized manufacturer of strychnine in Canada.
Although the product has now reached eligible municipalities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, there is a high demand surpassing the available supply in many cases. Some municipalities like Wheatland County and Flagstaff County are resorting to lottery systems to determine which producers can purchase strychnine. However, concerns are raised about the effectiveness of strychnine at this time of the year.
The Municipal District of Wainwright in east-central Alberta recently announced that it would not offer strychnine to producers this year due to the late season coupled with extremely limited product availability. According to Shelby Oracheski, Wainwright’s agricultural fieldman, the optimal time to use such products is before the spring green-up when alternative food sources are scarce.
Additionally, concerns persist about the environmental impact of using strychnine. Before its phased-out use in 2020 and subsequent outright ban in 2024, strychnine was a common gopher control solution on farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The potent neurotoxin posed environmental risks, potentially impacting at-risk species such as swift foxes and burrowing owls.
While the current strychnine program includes strict requirements and environmental protocols, some experts argue that the decision was made without sufficient scientific evidence. They advocate for exploring a variety of alternatives for gopher control, including legal pesticides, fumigation, and promoting predator activity to manage gopher populations more effectively.
