AWA statement: Strychnine use a concern for non-target organisms

April 13, 2026

• •
• •
• •

• Grasslands
• Public Lands
• Wildlife

Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) was disappointed to learn about the federal government’s approval of emergency strychnine use in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Strychnine is a highly toxic compound that indiscriminately kills rodents, birds, dogs and wolves, deer, reptiles, and many other vertebrate species, and poses a threat to many endangered species.

Only a few years ago, strychnine was banned from use in Canada, citing unacceptable environmental risks. Now, a temporary registration of strychnine to control ground squirrels, commonly called gophers, is being allowed until November 2027.

Despite assurances that “additional risk mitigation measures are significant,” there is very little evidence that strychnine can be used without harming non-target species, and even a temporary lifting of the ban could have devastating consequences for other wildlife.

The announcement of the ban has been met with mixed feelings from within the agricultural community. Although ground squirrels can cause damage to crops and lands, and some producers need assistance, many producers within the community prefer to work with natural systems for long-term sustainability. Several producers have indicated they are not happy with reversing the ban on strychnine.

“Strychnine was banned because the environmental cost was too high,” says Ruiping Luo, Conservation Specialist with AWA. “That hasn’t changed. If we allow strychnine to be used, it won’t just be ground squirrels that are poisoned — it will impact our wildlife and our ecosystems.”

Since strychnine not only kills ground squirrels, but also their predators, it can lead to worse outbreaks of ground squirrel populations in the long-term, with strychnine likely continue to be used in greater amounts. To control ground squirrel populations, we need ecological and steward-based solutions, including greater tolerance and support for natural predators. Relying on strychnine is an outdated and short-sighted decision with consequences for long-term pest control.

We must ultimately work towards more effective solutions with long-term sustainability.

 

Background

The effect of strychnine on non-target organisms is well-documented. As well as the targeted ground squirrels, strychnine baits can poison birds, rabbits, small rodents, and other animals. Additionally, strychnine poisoning often extends to raptors, burrowing owls, snakes, and predators that consume the poisoned carcasses. Ferruginous hawks and swift foxes, both at-risk species in Alberta, are particularly susceptible since they rely on ground squirrels as a major food source. Several cases have also been recorded of pets or livestock dying from strychnine, including dogs and horses.

Predators of ground squirrels are particularly at risk. Ground squirrels often come to the surface, instead of dying in their burrows, and as a result, their poisoned meat is easily available to many predators. The death of ground squirrel predators means there will be fewer controls on ground squirrel populations in the following years, leading to worse outbreaks and infestations, and a greater reliance on strychnine or other chemical methods to control the population.

In 2020, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) announced the decision to ban the use of strychnine in controlling Richardson’s ground squirrels, and that the chemical would be phased out over the next three years. The chemical continued to be used as a predacide against wolves, coyotes, black bears, and skunks until 2024, when “Health Canada found that strychnine uses did not meet the requirements for protection of the environment.”

In February 2026, an Emergency Use Request by Alberta asking for 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate to control Richardson’s ground squirrels was denied, stating “PMRA determined that the information did not provide sufficient means to address the risks of concern identified in the re-evaluation that led to strychnine’s cancellation.” Unexpectedly, the Canadian government approved a temporary use in March.

The anticipated rollout for strychnine use will be in early June. This is too late to be effective against ground squirrel populations, as the adults will have been active for weeks, and many will have young. The timing also increases the likelihood that young ground squirrels will consume strychnine and transfer the poison to nearby predators who consume them.

Strychnine is heavily restricted in several other countries. It has been banned in the European Union since 2006, and is highly restricted in the United States and Australia.

Rather than relying on strychnine, encouraging predation and establishing greater ecological balance would help to control ground squirrel populations, such as preserving vital habitat and denning sites or establishing perches for hawks. The decision to lift the ban reflects poor judgement and pushes an outdated tool instead of working with landowners and the natural environment to establish a long-term solution.

For more information, contact: Ruiping Luo, (403) 283-2025, rluo@abwild.ca

To read our letter to the federal Minister of Health and the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food on the emergency registration of strychnine, click here.