Richardson's Ground squirrel AKA gopher -photo credit to U-of-L

By The Canadian Press

Health Canada to ban strychnine to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels

Mar 5, 2020 | 4:10 PM

EDMONTON – Health Canada is moving forward with a ban on the use of the deadly pesticide strychnine to kill gophers.

The Health Canada website says an evaluation of scientific information confirms there are risks to other animals, including species at risk, for products registered to control Richardson’s ground squirrels.

In 2018, Health Canada cited concerns about animals including the swift fox and the burrowing owl in its proposal.

Gophers, which burrow underground, can damage crops and their burrows can injure livestock.

Health Canada says it made the decision after reviewing comments from agriculture groups, governments, environmental groups and members of the general public.

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The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan expressed concerns about a ban and groups including the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities opposed it.