Premier Scott Moe looking at getting strychnine back to combat gophers

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said this week at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention that his government was going to look at getting strychnine back into farmer fields in the province for gopher (ground squirrel) control.

“It’s needed and we’re going to look into it … there’s problem with some of the rodents that are out there,” Moe said.

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SARM called for a reversal of a federal ban on the persticide at the beginning of March, calling for the provincial government to use the Saskatchewan First Act to reintroduce it specifically for gopher (ground squirrel) control.

Strychnine was banned by Health Canada in September 2024, mainly because of its harmful effects on wildlife, companion animals and other animals that were accidentally poisoned.

Bill Huber, president of SARM, said earlier that canola fields are 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.

“The little gophers (have) got great appetites in the spring. They get into those fields, especially on the hills, and they can clean off hundreds of acres in a matter of two or three days. It’s devastating and those crops generally don’t come back — and if they do, it’s going to be later in the season.”

Huber said the last few years have seen gopher populations grow in the southwest part of the province, particularly in fields where it’s been warm and dry.

What can be done to prevent gophers?

Dr. James Tansey, insect and vertebrate pest management specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, said growers should start protecting fields now to prevent gophers.

“If you had a problem last year, then it behooves a grower to really get on it early and that’s right now,” Tansey said.

“Early control is really important — no half measures. If you had a problem last year, you should anticipate one this year. That, coupled with the long term seasonal forecast from a European source that actually compiles data from multiple weather weather services, is indicating that we’re anticipating a very warm spring.”

Tansey said data collected over the last season didn’t tell them that the province is experiencing a gopher outbreak. He said insurance claims last year for land damage from animals like gophers was less than in previous years.

“The claims are actually less than when strychnine was deregistered, which I realize is kind of flying in the face with some people’s understanding of things,” he said.

“What we did experience … was very localized pressure, so those fields that were hit, were hit really hard. That’s a pretty significant economic hit to that particular grower.”

Tansey said some farmers did express that their methods were not working.

“I have several anecdotal reports of growers putting down baits for Richardson squirrel (gophers) and not getting the effect that they might like. There’s some indication that some of those baits may have gone down late,” he said.

“Timing is really important for these baits, so you need to get them down early and target those animals very enthusiastically.”

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.”

— with files from 980 CJME’s Nicole Garn, and 650 CKOM News

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