Strychnine will not be an approved tool for gopher control in 2026.
Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has denied a joint request from the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments seeking emergency use approval to manage Richardson's ground squirrel populations.
Strychnine use for Richardson's ground squirrels — commonly referred to as gophers — has been banned across Canada since 2023, with all other uses prohibited as of 2024.
The two provinces submitted the request in October for emergency use of two per cent liquid strychnine, citing major concerns from producers and ranchers about increasing gopher populations and the efficacy of alternative registered products.
"Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing Richardson's ground squirrels with the limited tools available," says Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit, in a Feb. 2 statement. "We are extremely disappointed by PMRA's decision and ask them to reconsider this decision. We need a federal regulatory system that considers economic impacts felt by producers and the realities on the ground."
RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, echoed Marit in urging the PMRA to reconsider the decision and immediately reinstate the use of strychnine.
“Alberta’s producers are facing significant challenges when managing Richardson’s ground squirrels (RGS) and the loss of this effective control method is devastating for many across the agriculture sector. The annual risk to hay and native pastures exceeds $800 million and the risk of this exploding RGS population is detrimental to farms and ranches across the country," said Sigurdson. "The downstream effect will also contribute to the ongoing food affordability and security crisis we are facing in Canada."
The Saskatchewan government says the emergency use request included science-based mitigation measures to reduce risks to non-target species, including narrower application windows, mandatory training, and enhanced reporting and stewardship requirements.
Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald had expressed support for the emergency use request at the ag committee and in public appearances, but the PMRA falls under the health minister's jurisdiction.
In a statement to RealAgriculture, Health Canada says the decision was "consistent with the department's 2020 cancellation of strychnine, which was implemented to protect non-target animals, including species at risk such as the swift fox and burrowing owl, from strychnine-related poisonings."
The federal department also says the submission from Alberta and Saskatchewan "did not include new or effective measures to address the risks identified in 2020, and therefore the emergency use request could not be approved."
Health Canada says the list of alternative products includes zinc phosphide, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, and aluminum phosphide.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Health Canada.
