@ryankbrook.bsky.social April 16, 2026:
One last map. National Parks inside and near the strychnine use area in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Grasslands NP fully inside the zone
Elk Island NP fully inside the zone
Prince Albert and Waterton NP directly adject-can use right up to the park boundary
Riding Mountain, Banff, Jasper very close.
someone explain to my simple brain that ANY consideration was made for the environment before strychnine was approved over this are
The federal government gets an F.
The Saskatchewan government gets an F.
The Alberta government gets an F.
Fails across the board here.
And here is the remaining range of the burrowing owl on the prairies in green completely within the approved area for strychnine use.
Burrowing owls inhabit similar prairie areas, using the same burrow holes, and feed on ground squirrels.
If it looks like the area approved for strychnine took zero consideration for the environment that’s because its true.
The red area is where strychnine is approved for use for the next two years. The blue area is the last remaining range of swift foxes in Canada.
@debbartlette.bsky.social:
I’m no expert but seems to me this is not good news for burrowing owls. Did ANY experts have input into this plan? Or did politicians do it all by themselves?
Bible Belt did it; much of that area is heavily ruled by bible (as is Mark Carney), with little care or concern for other species(Read this in ‘sarcasm’ mode)
I made a map of areas where strychnine has been authorized for ’emergency use’ on ground squirrels based on the individual Alberta and Saskatchewan gov maps. I put a [10] km buffer around it. You can download the GoogleEarth file here: tinyurl.com/rsv2depv You can see all of the areas at risk.
That is a 458,000 km2 area, LARGER THAN SWEDEN.
@nimblenewt.bsky.social:
Those poor colonies! Plus it encompasses all the swift foxes, and maybe all the burrowing owls too?
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
Yeah if someone was asked to make a map of where to deploy poison to do the most damage to swift foxes, hawks, eagles, owls, red foxes, coyotes, pet dogs and more, this is about what the looks like. It 100% ignores any and all environmental concerns.
@nimblenewt.bsky.social:
And it’s not even to eradicate an invasive species! It’s to attack an important native creature, it’s so stupid. It must be really demoralizing for everyone, I’m so sorry they won’t listen to reason.
@wildlifeseb.bsky.social:
Uggh.
It’s as if cruelty is the point.
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
yeah it is insane–especially after we won and had it banned entirely in Canada
@trishpaton.bsky.social:
Just un-freaking-believable. The loss of predator/scavenger/affiliated species is going to be astounding.
@ryankbrook.bsky.social April 13, 2026:
So there is now an updated map for Strychnine approved use to control ground squirrels in Saskatchewan that is much larger than was just previously released.The killers in AB and SK want to undo the ban, they’ll keep working Carney until he orders strychnine unbanned everywhere. He’s an inhumane Harper Con, after all.
Hard to keep up with all of these last minute changes. No clear justification or explanation for the Alberta and Saskatchewan maps.
Expect to see dead ground squirrels above ground, dead dogs and other pets, as well as a wide range of poisoned hawks, owls, skunks, foxes, coyotes etc.
There is no more painful way to kill an animal.
@rinrat86.bsky.social:
Does it indicate that AB went with the approach of everywhere because we can’t be bothered to do any homework and don’t want famer Bob complaining if we miss his quarter… but perhaps Sask put a bit of thought into it?
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
Hmm possible but unlikely. This is the now updated map for SK that is very much non-discriminating.
@dinorancho.bsky.social:
We are in the banned area.
‘Just’ in the banned area.
The owls thank providence.
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
Well reality is that people use it in all sorts of ways that are not legal or approved so it would be very naive to expect strychnine users to follow the rules on this.
@dinorancho.bsky.social:
We love our striped gophers.Me too.
And we are thankful that the owls keep them under control.same
(Though we try not to think about why Gainer and Esmerelda have suddenly disappeared)
@whatsthepointsk.bsky.social:
When I farmed my dog was poisoned with strychnine twice. He survived because of a good local vet. It is a terrible undiscriminating poison.
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
Yeah it is terrible. If it was used properly it would be risky and problematic but there is a load of evidence that it is not at all used appropriately.
I read accounts from humans that were poisoned by strychnine at small enough doses they survived and it sounds absolutely horrific and painful.
@whatsthepointsk.bsky.social:
The convulsions and rigidity was unbelievable. I was horrified watching the reactions in my dog, Bandit, poisoned with strychnine and the stressful night at the vet. The experience is always near. I could never go through it again.
@jrriver.bsky.social:
FFS! Evil!!
@kentonagbone.bsky.social:
Wtf.
@ryankbrook.bsky.social:
exactly
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