A Richardson's ground squirrel, seen here in Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park. (Image Credit: ID 261003872 © Doug Gordon | Dreamstime.com)

By Josh Hall

farmers have suffered severe damages

Alberta and Saskatchewan relieved at strychnine allowance from feds

Mar 31, 2026 | 11:23 AM

The Government of Alberta is pleased with Ottawa after the feds announced they will temporarily allow the use of strychnine to address gopher infestations.

The solution to this gopher enigma is reportedly to be permitted in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and is specifically to help farmers address damage caused by Richardson’s ground squirrels.

Strychnine has been banned since 2024 because of the risks it poses to other wildlife that consume poisoned carcasses, according to reporting by The Canadian Press on March 30.

“I am pleased that the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has accepted Alberta and Saskatchewan’s resubmission for emergency use registration for two per cent liquid strychnine for Richardson’s ground squirrel control,” Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, said in a media release.

“We heard concerns from farmers and ranchers across the prairies and successfully advocated on their behalf for the federal government to reverse its decision.”

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Sigurdson says it means another tool in farmers’ toolboxes, noting Alberta producers have suffered thousands of dollars of damages, be it to crops and pasture, livestock injuries, and equipment.

“I’d like to thank Premier Danielle Smith for her advocacy directly to Prime Minister Carney. Ensuring we have open lines of communication from the provincial to federal government is crucial to resolving issues of this nature,” Sigurdson added.

“We are working to procure supply and fully implement the agreement as soon as possible, and we will continue to work closely with farmers and ranchers across the province in the coming days to share more information.”

Sigurdson noted she worked with Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit on the application.

In a separate release from the Government of Saskatchewan, Marit says the hope is that strychnine will ultimately be reinstated permanently.

According to The Canadian Press, the Prairie provinces recently pushed Health Canada to reconsider the all-out ban on strychnine, arguing gophers are threatening crops and causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage.

Federal authorization will reportedly be in place until November 2027.

More about the Richardson’s ground squirrel is on alberta.ca.

(with files from The Canadian Press)