August 2025: ASB Gopher Impact Survey
Join the 2025 ASB Gopher Impact Survey Today – August 16 blog post
Presented at 2025 Provincial ASB Conference:
BACKGROUND:
In 2024 the ASB Provincial Committee passed a motion to create an ASB Position on Strychnine for Ricardson’s Ground Squirrel Control. Below are links to the fact sheets, timelines and history of the use of Strychnine according to the ASB archives and federal government website.
Emergency Use Registration
From PMRA website
“Under the provisions of Section 18 of the Pest Control Products Regulations, the Minister may register a control product, for a period not exceeding one year, for the emergency control of pest infestations that are seriously detrimental to public health, domestic animals, natural resources or other things.
An emergency is generally deemed to exist when the following criteria are met:
- a pest outbreak or pest situation occurs that can cause significant economic, environmental or health problems;
- there is no effective product or application method registered in Canada for the control of the pest; and
- there is no effective, alternative control method available.
Emergency registrations must be sponsored by the provincial or federal agency involved in the direct management of the pest problem (e.g., the provincial Ministry of Agriculture). The sponsor is responsible for providing the necessary information to the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), to support the proposed registration and for obtaining any additional support letters required.”
From Alberta Government website:
“Emergency registrations are time limited registrations, granted by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for a period of one year or less. Emergency registrations for Alberta can be applied for through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Submission packages are coordinated by the Provincial Emergency and Minor Use Coordinator (780-427-9945) with the help of the industry specialists, provincial ARD staff, grower organizations, registrants, and others. They are not intended to solve ongoing pest problems, and are normally granted only twice by PMRA, however there are exceptions.
How long does it take?
It takes about 1 week to gather all the information together and prepare a submission package, and 2 to 6 weeks for PMRA to review the information and make a decision.
Emergency registrations must be sponsored by the provincial or federal agency involved in the direct management of the pest problem (for example, the provincial Ministry of Agriculture). The sponsor is responsible for providing the necessary information to the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), to support the proposed registration and for obtaining any additional support letters required.
Emergency registrations require and receive immediate attention. Consideration will first be given to products that are already registered in Canada and have previously been subjected to a major review. When no acceptable registered product is available, consideration may be given to products (or uses) that are under evaluation, provided the active ingredient is currently registered in Canada. Those products (or uses) with unacceptable health or environmental risks cannot be considered. The emergency use will be considered only if the product is effective and risks deemed acceptable. Active ingredients not registered in Canada will not be considered.
An emergency is generally deemed to exist when the following criteria are met:
- a pest outbreak or pest situation occurs that can cause significant economic, environmental or health problems;
- there is no effective product or application method registered in Canada for the control of the pest; and
- there is no effective, alternative control method available.”
Procedure and Information requirements Table included on the website.
Other Resources
Report to agriculture ministers from the FPT Working Group on Pesticides Management : As directed by the Ministers of Agriculture, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) government experts formed a working group to examine challenges and opportunities in Canada’s current approach to pest control. The working group drafted 5 recommendations to improve pesticide management in Canada.
- ASB Position Paper on Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Control
- Evaluation of Alternatives to Strychnine (2023)
- Strychnine and Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (2024)
- Richardson’s Ground Squirrels update (2025)
Wildlife and animal groups are lobbying for elimination of Strychnine:
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