In 2019, Canada made the commendable decision to ban the use of strychnine, a highly toxic and dangerous poison. But shockingly, strychnine has re-emerged under emergency use permits in Alberta and Saskatchewan. As highlighted in this article, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/strychnine-emergency-use-alberta-saskatchewan-9.7148000 this reversal poses significant risks to both wildlife and humans.

Strychnine is a powerful poison known for its lethal effects on mammals, including unintended victims like birds of prey and domestic pets. The presence of such a toxin in our environment disrupts ecosystems and endangers species already struggling to survive in the modern world. It's clear that the risks far outweigh the benefits its temporary use may provide.

Additionally, this poison's accessibility raises concerns about potential misuse or accidental poisonings, spreading fear and anxiety among communities. Canada has taken steps towards environmental protection and conservation, and re-banning strychnine aligns with our national values of preserving the peace and diversity of our ecosystem.

We urge the Canadian government to act decisively and ban strychnine permanently. By doing so, we can ensure a safer environment for both humans and wildlife. A commitment to sustainable and humane pest control measures will reflect our dedication to responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

Please sign this petition to demand that our leaders prioritize the health and safety of our communities and wildlife, and take a firm stand against toxic pollutants like strychnine. Together, we can protect our land and its inhabitants for future generations. Each signature counts, your voice can make a difference.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

In a dramatic policy reversal, Ottawa is authorizing the controlled and time-limited emergency use of strychnine to address millions of dollars worth of damage in Alberta and Saskatchewan caused by an infestation of Richardson’s ground squirrels, known colloquially as gophers.  The decision marks the temporary return of one of agriculture’s most controversial—and deadly—pest control tools.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Strychnine, in two per cent liquid form, was the go-to gopher control solution on farms in the two provinces before the federal government began phasing out its use to manage the pests in 2020.  In 2024, it banned it outright due to environmental risks posed by the poison.   The approval authorizes the controlled and time-limited emergency use of the poison in the two prairie provinces until November 2027 .

Wade Nelson, a farmer near High River, Alta., said he’s seen 170 acres of his canola crops wiped out from a gopher infestation.  Provincial agriculture ministers have documented millions of dollars in crop damage caused by Richardson’s ground squirrels.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬
What makes this decision particularly alarming is strychnine’s extreme toxicity to humans. The probable lethal oral dose in humans is 1.5 to 2 mg/kg —just 100-140 milligrams could kill an average adult.

𝐓𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬-𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫
Strychnine poisoning produces symptoms terrifyingly similar to tetanus. The pattern of muscle contraction is very similar between the two toxins , including severe muscle spasms, lockjaw, and the characteristic “sardonic grin” from facial muscle contractions.

The critical difference: tetanus tends to have gradual onset of symptoms, and in generalized tetanus, spasm can last up to four weeks , while following the ingestion of strychnine, symptoms of poisoning usually appear within 15 to 60 minutes .

Patient/victims remain alert and lucid during seizures —creating “awake seizures” where victims are fully conscious as their bodies convulse uncontrollably. The proximate cause of death in strychnine poisoning can be cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, or brain damage. 

𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬
The return of strychnine reintroduces multiple contamination pathways. Treated baits can mix with harvested crops, contaminate storage facilities, or be accidentally included in grain destined for human consumption. Livestock grazing on treated fields can concentrate strychnine in their tissues, creating secondary exposure through meat and dairy products.
Environmental persistence means the compound can remain active in soil, potentially affecting root vegetables and leafy greens in subsequent plantings.

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬
There is no antidote for strychnine poisoning , making treatment purely supportive. For rural hospitals, distinguishing between strychnine poisoning and tetanus becomes critical—both present with similar muscle spasms, but strychnine requires immediate, intensive intervention while tetanus can be managed more gradually.

With prompt recognition of the characteristic features and rapid supportive care, survival is possible , but if the patient can be supported for the first 6 to 12 hours, the prognosis is good. 

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬
The strychnine authorization threatens Canadian agricultural exports. Natural substances like arsenic, strychnine, and tobacco dust (nicotine sulfate) are prohibited   under organic certification standards, automatically disqualifying contaminated crops from billion-dollar organic markets.

Strychnine use also bars access to International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certifications—increasingly required for premium commodity markets. Since strychnine has no established residue limit in the EU due to its complete ban, any detectable level would trigger automatic export rejection.

For Alberta and Saskatchewan farmers, the emergency authorization may prove a costly trade-off between short-term gopher control and long-term market access.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭
A study by Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon confirmed 51 cases of unintentional strychnine poisoning in animals in western Canada even after the ban was in effect, and 25 of them happened in Saskatchewan , proving illegal use continued despite prohibition.

“There is no safe or environmentally acceptable way to poison animals with strychnine,” Alexandra Pester, Animal Justice’s Calgary-based staff lawyer, said. “It is an indiscriminate poison that causes excruciating pain to all animals who ingest it.” 

𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞
The emergency authorization represents a calculated risk with human lives. While farmers celebrate having an effective tool restored, the return of a compound that can kill humans in doses smaller than an aspirin tablet raises serious questions about food safety oversight.

With largely undefined monitoring measures and a two-year timeline until November 2027, this serves as an uncontrolled experiment in whether one of the world’s most toxic compounds can be safely reintroduced into our food system. The margin for error is measured in milligrams and minutes—and the consequences of failure could be catastrophic.

Finding a farm that does not harm gophers requires looking for operations focused on regenerative agriculture, permaculture, or organic certification, as these methods often prioritize ecosystem balance over eradication. Instead of poison, these farmers typically use natural deterrents, physical barriers, or encourage predators to manage populations. 

Here is how to find gopher-friendly farms and produce:

1. Search for Specific Farming Philosophies

Permaculture Farms: These farms design systems that work with nature. Instead of killing gophers, they may use "gopher-resistant" planting, wire cages for fruit trees, or encourage predators like hawks and owls.

Regenerative Agriculture: These farms focus on soil health and biodiversity, often viewing creatures like gophers as part of the ecosystem to be managed, not exterminated.

Certified Organic: Organic farms often avoid toxic, broad-spectrum pesticides and rodenticide, favoring non-lethal management options. 

2. Utilize Local Food Networks

Farmers Markets: Visit local markets and ask farmers directly about their pest management practices. Look for farms that emphasize a "wildlife-friendly" or "integrated pest management" (IPM) approach that avoids toxic chemicals.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Research local CSA farms to find ones with sustainability-focused missions.

Ask for Non-Lethal Management: Ask if they use, or are open to, techniques like:

Raptor Platforms: Perches for hawks and owls to hunt gophers.

Live Trapping and Relocation: Moving gophers to a different, appropriate location.

Aromatic Repellents: Using castor oil or specific plantings like lavender and rosemary to deter gophers. 

3. Check for Alternative Management Signs

Instead of seeing fresh, large-scale destruction from poison, a gopher-friendly farm might display signs of coexistence:

Owl Boxes: Prominent wooden boxes on poles for owls to nest.

Gopher Wire Baskets: Protective mesh used around the roots of new trees and plants.

Buffer Strips: Tall grasses at field edges that encourage fox and raptor activity, helping to manage rodents. 

Summary of Non-Harmful Practices

When talking to farmers, you can suggest or ask if they use these methods:

Physical Barriers: Hardware cloth under raised beds or in orchard planting holes.

Habitat Management: Creating a diverse ecosystem that supports snakes, badgers, and weasels, who eat gophers.

Repellents: Using castor oil or sonic devices to make the area undesirable. 

Note: In some regions, like Alberta and Saskatchewan, high infestations have led to the temporary re-approval of gopher poison (strychnine) until 2027. Therefore, checking specifically with the farmer in these areas is crucial.