Farmers are facing a significant challenge with gophers, also known as Richardson’s ground squirrels, due to their destructive impact on crops and farm equipment. The use of strychnine to control gopher populations was banned in 2024 by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency over concerns of harming other wildlife and inhumane practices.
To address this issue, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) launched a free gopher control program last year in response to the growing demand for assistance from farmers. Executive director Todd Smith highlighted the importance of catching gophers early as they emerge from hibernation to minimize their impact.
Farmers can avail of this program by contacting the SWF, which then connects them with nearby volunteers who are ready to help with gopher control efforts. The hunters, all volunteers, are trained to handle the task responsibly and ethically, ensuring that farmers receive effective assistance.
While some farmers believe that hunting gophers is a viable solution, others like James Husband, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Hazelwood, noted that controlling gopher populations remains a challenging task due to their rapid reproduction rates. The absence of strychnine has led farmers like Don Connick to explore alternative methods like zinc phosphide, albeit less effective and more labor-intensive.
Amid debates on the most humane and effective methods to manage gopher populations, the SWF’s initiative aims to provide practical support to farmers facing gopher-related challenges.