Use of strychnine under review

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

The federal government is reviewing the use of strychnine to kill gophers – Richardson’s ground squirrel – because of its potential harm to species at risk like swift fox and burrowing owls.
However, this is not sitting well with the Alberta government, and local farmers and ranchers. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association have raised concerns that use of the product is the only way to control gopher populations, and banning the use will result in significant economic repercussions.
At the Wheatland County council meeting Sept. 18, a letter from the county’s Agricultural Services Board was approved for mailing to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) outlining concerns over the move.
“Concerns with strychnine stem primarily from the poisoning of non-target species, but we feel this concern is dealt with effectively in the product label requirements, which mitigate the risk through directions for use, monitoring, environmental precautions and disposal. To help ensure producers are appropriately trained in the use and handling of the product, consideration could also be given to requiring a farmer pesticide certificate with an endorsement for exterior rodent control before purchasing of the product is allowed,” stated Wheatland County Councillor and Agricultural Service Board Chairman Jason Wilson in the letter to the PMRA.
“While the re-evaluation focuses on the health and environmental safety standards for this product, it unfortunately ignores the economic impact that Richardson’s ground squirrel damage has on producers, including direct crop loss through consumption, and reduced production due to plant injury and trampling. In addition, there are downtime and repair costs for equipment damaged, as well as concerns of physical injury to livestock due to ground squirrel burrows and those of badgers who follow ground squirrel populations,” the letter continued. “Producers in our municipality and others are simply trying to manage a very serious crop pest issue, with the help of one of the most effective means of control currently available. Producers do employ a number of other control methods in their management systems, but time and time again attest to the effectiveness of strychnine to manage Richardson’s ground squirrel.
“We feel it’s important to listen to the people living on the landscape dealing with this pest problem on a daily basis. If there was another product as effective as strychnine, producers would certainly use it, but until such time as an effective replacement is available we strongly encourage Health Canada to maintain the registration of strychnine for the control of Richardson’s ground squirrel.”
The federal government took comments from the public about the proposed move, but closure for feedback processes ended Sept. 27. Results of the consultation will be posted on www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/pesticides-pest-management and the final decision will be under reports and publications on www.canada.ca.