@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
There are extremely good reasons why strychnine was banned in the first place and there has been plenty of time to work on other options that are effective and safe.
You would have to search hard to find a more painful way to die. Plus it kills anything.
Conservatives call for approval of emergency strychnine use, Poison used for pest populations of gophers was phased out over the first half of the 2020s by Jonah Grignon, Sept 4, 2025, Canadian Cattlemen
The federal Conservatives say Canada must approve the emergency use of the poison strychnine against gopher infestations.
Conservative MP John Barlow, who is the shadow minister for agriculture, called for the measure in a Thursday press release, saying populations of Richardson’s ground squirrels (gophers) have been out of control on farms and rural municipalities since the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) cancelled the registration of the poison in 2020.
Why it matters: Richardson’s ground squirrels, or gophers, can cause significant damage to pastures and hayland.
The PMRA re-evaluated the pesticide and said it posed risks to non-target animals like
everything, not justbirds. Bans on the sale, and eventually use of strychnine came in following years.
“Farmers and rural municipalities across the Prairies have been sounding the alarm about the devastating agricultural impacts of uncontrolled (gopher) populations,” said Barlow, via the release. “The loss of strychnine has led to widespread infestations, with municipalities reporting severe damage to cropland and pastureland.”
Recently, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) asked federal ministers to reinstate strychnine under emergency use provisions.
According to the statement, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation paid $10.6 million in gopher-related claims in 2024.
Alternative products, such as zinc phosphide, exist for gopher control, but many say they aren’t as effective.
Refer also to:
2024: Canada, finally, bans *all* use of strychnine (yes, even in Cruelville Alberta, effective September after six-month phase-out) – a terrible way to die. Health Canada found more strychnine was used than number of poisoned carcasses retrieved, resulting in strychnine-poisoned carcasses available for other animals to feed on, increasing risk of secondary poisoning. What will vile anti-life, anti-science Danielle Smith and her evil Evangelicals do?Run to the anti-life but forced birthing pro-life (in their hatred of women and girls) Harper Corrupt ReformaCon party!