After facing significant delays, the authorized period for utilizing strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan commenced on Wednesday. Farmers are permitted to use the contentious rodenticide to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly referred to as gophers, until September 1. However, constraints on quantities and doubts regarding the product’s efficacy at this late stage of the year are leading to complications.
Health Canada had prohibited the use of strychnine two years ago due to environmental hazards, but following persistent lobbying by Alberta and Saskatchewan, the substance was sanctioned for controlled and temporary emergency use in those provinces. Gopher infestations in Alberta are estimated to pose a yearly risk of over $800 million 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. The anticipated spring application window, spanning from March 1 to June 15, was missed due to supply chain challenges faced by Agromax, the sole authorized manufacturer of strychnine in Canada.
While the product has now reached eligible municipalities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, demand often surpasses supply, prompting counties like Wheatland and Flagstaff to implement lottery systems for selecting buyers. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of strychnine at this time of the year, with some municipalities, such as the Municipal District of Wainwright, opting not to offer the product due to its late-season timing and limited availability.
Strychnine training has been completed by 71 producers in the Municipal District of Wainwright, but inquiries have dwindled due to doubts about its efficacy. Plans are in place to retain the strychnine for the following year to allow for a complete season of use. Efforts are underway to advocate for an extension of the special use approval for another year, viewing the current season somewhat as a loss.
Amid ongoing concerns about the environmental impact, strychnine was previously a primary gopher control method on farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan before its phased discontinuation in 2020. It was ultimately banned in 2024 due to environmental risks, including potential harm to at-risk species like swift foxes and burrowing owls.
Despite the introduction of stringent requirements and environmental protocols in the new strychnine program, concerns persist regarding the decision’s basis lacking substantial scientific evidence. Suggestions for gopher control alternatives in Alberta include various legal pesticides, fumigation, and methods to enhance predator activity, such as constructing nesting platforms for raptors like hawks and falcons. Other solutions involve promoting tall vegetation growth to deter gophers and managing livestock grazing practices to discourage gopher colonies.