Gophers, also known as Richardson’s ground squirrels, are causing significant financial losses for farmers by damaging crops and equipment. To control their population, the use of strychnine was banned in 2024 due to its adverse effects on other wildlife and inhumane nature. In response, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) initiated a free gopher control program last year to address the issue.
Executive director Todd Smith noted that the program was launched in response to increasing requests for gopher control over the past few years. Farmers interested in availing themselves of the program can contact the SWF, which will then connect them with volunteers in their vicinity who have agreed to participate in gopher hunting. These volunteers are covered by $5 million in liability insurance and are committed to carrying out the task responsibly and ethically.
While the program has been seen as a positive step, some, like James Husband from the Rural Municipality of Hazelwood, believe that it does not fully address the larger problem of gopher overpopulation. Husband pointed out that gophers reproduce rapidly, and hunting them may not be entirely effective, especially as the breeding gophers tend to stay underground.
Edmond Sanganyado, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, suggested that shooting gophers could be a more humane alternative to poison. He emphasized that professional shooting can lead to a quicker and less painful death for the animals compared to the effects of strychnine, which can cause convulsions and death within a short period.
According to Todd Smith, the best time to target gophers is when they emerge from hibernation, which typically occurs from mid-February to early March for males and mid-March for females. Acting before the breeding season can help reduce the impact on crops and livelihoods.
Some farmers have turned to alternatives like zinc phosphide for gopher control since the ban on strychnine. However, these methods are considered less effective, more labor-intensive, and costlier than using strychnine, as stated by farmer Don Connick.
