Alberta farmers and ranchers are grappling with a severe agricultural crisis driven by an explosion in Richardson’s ground squirrel (RGS) populations in the province.RGS — also known as gophers — are currently causing widespread devastation across the prairie provinces, threatening cereal, oilseed, pulse, forage, pasture and horticultural crops.In an open letter statement released on X by Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson, he emphasizes how the damage they inflict province-wide extends beyond agriculture, with RGS also chewing through fibre optic cables and puncturing gas and water lines, creating significant safety hazards and escalating repair costs.Sigurdson continued how in Alberta, “the annual risk to hay and native pasture is estimated at over $800 million,” posing a dire threat to Canada’s food security and agricultural economy.“They are also a major risk to the health of livestock, causing countless avoidable injuries like broken legs year after year, along with damaging expensive farm equipment.”.The crisis is exacerbated by the federal government’s March 2024 ban on 2% liquid strychnine, a highly effective control measure, leaving producers with costly, labour-intensive, and less effective alternatives.“The unchecked spread of Richardson’s ground squirrels is devastating our agricultural lands, and the continued delay in reinstating the production and sale of two percent liquid strychnine is compounding the damage by the day,” Sigurdson said.Sigurdson believes the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) decision to ban strychnine was implemented without adequate scientific basis, economic consideration, or viable alternatives, thereby putting unsustainable pressure on producers.Originally, the PMRA’s ban was based on concerns about secondary poisoning of non-target species, such as swift foxes and burrowing owls, which may consume poisoned RGS carcasses. However, critics argue that the decision relied on anecdotal evidence rather than relevant research.Recently, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), echoed these concerns in their province.Talking to the Western Standard, SWF Executive Director Darrell Crabbe said his organization, “recognizes the growing frustration gophers are causing in rural areas, particularly as they damage crops and create hazards for livestock.”.Sask Wildlife Federation mobilizes ‘Caddyshack’ spirit to tackle gopher problem.In February, SARM proposed using the Saskatchewan First Act to reinstate strychnine under provincial oversight, arguing that it is a low-risk and effective solution when used responsibly.“It has been a year since the ban came into full effect and our farmers are struggling to find a practical and effective method to control the Richardson’s ground squirrel populations,” said Bill Huber, SARM president in an official statement.The SARM believes strychnine baiting, when applied according to label instructions and integrated pest management practices, is an effective and low-risk method for controlling RGS, and the non-target risk is low.A 2020 study by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture found that strychnine use resulted in minimal non-target deaths, with only four deer mice affected despite the presence of numerous other species.SARM and Alberta Agriculture have repeatedly presented such data to the PMRA, but their appeals have been met with resistance. “The concerning thing is they never really have anybody come out here and look at the devastation,” Huber said..Non-chemical methods, such as raptor platforms, have been promoted to encourage predation by hawks. However, they are insufficient for large-scale infestations, particularly in drought conditions that exacerbate RGS population growth.“Alberta has consistently raised this issue as a major concern since the ban came into effect, including in FPT meetings and bilateral meetings between ministers,” Sigurdson said.This crisis extends beyond Alberta and Saskatchewan, with potential ripple effects on Canada’s food supply chain.“Without immediate intervention, we risk not only the viability of thousands of farms and ranches but also the affordability and security of Canada's food supply,” Sigurdson said.He concluded with RGS populations exploding under current conditions, the risk of widespread crop failure in 2026 is a valid possibility, threatening the affordability and availability of food for Canadians.
