On March 30 it was announced that the PMRA approved an Emergency Use Approval for 2% liquid strychnine for specific areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan under specific conditions. This approval will expire in November of 2027.

Please see the below information regarding Producer Training and Acquisition.

Training Requirements

• There is mandatory training to access to Strychnine. Eligible users must complete a one-hour online training course prior to distribution and use.
  • Eligibility:
    • Only titled landowners or legally recognized operators (leaseholders or renters with a written agreement) may apply strychnine to their land if they have completed strychnine specific training. Proxies are not permitted. Additionally, to confirm qualification, two of the following must be provided:
      – Purchaser’s confirmed legal land description
      – Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit number
      – Other information that would verify the purchaser is a commercial agriculturalist.
    • 2% liquid strychnine can only be dispensed to someone who meets the above criteria. Acreage owners do not fall under the category of farmers and cannot be dispensed 2% liquid strychnine.
    • A valid Exterior Rodent Control pesticide applicator certificate, pesticide service registration and strychnine specific training are required for employees, hired hands and family members wishing to apply this.

• Training will be available online only through the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) starting May 4, 2026, and ending August 1, 2026.  https://sarm.ca/strychnine-stewardship-training/
• Certificates will take approximately two business days to process and must be presented at the time of purchase. *Product will not be available for pickup on the same day training is completed.

Purchase Requirements

To obtain product, eligible producers will be required to:

• Complete and show proof of mandatory training
• Submit a declaration form (currently being developed) confirming significant gopher infestation and agreement to follow all label and emergency use rules
• Provide basic treatment plan including site location and land use

Producer Application Requirements and Follow Up

• Renters may apply strychnine if they have a valid written agreement and have completed the required training.
• Producers must identify one municipality (typically your home quarter) from which they will purchase. You may apply product on eligible land in other approved areas.
• Approved application windows must be adhered to (spring from March 1 to June 15 and summer from July 15 to September 1)
• Follow all program obligations and submit mandatory forms in the timeline required, including:
  • Signage must be posted on LLD where strychnine is being used
  • Monitor treated areas, collect and properly dispose of carcasses, raw strychnine product and bait
  • Submit a product evaluation form after use
• Follow all product label requirements. View the label following the link below:
  • https://pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca/1_1/view_label?p_ukid=418094256
• Random or target audits will be conducted by Government of Alberta officials or directed representatives.

Supply and Availability

• An initial shipment of product is expected to arrive to the municipality late May to early June. Two more shipments are expected over the summer.
  • PLEASE NOTE: supply is extremely limited. Initial reports indicated there will be approximately 800 cases distributed across all eligible jurisdictions in Alberta in the first shipment. Producers are encouraged to actively manage RGS using alternative control methods NOW and not wait for strychnine to be available.
• A case contains 24 250 mL bottles. One bottle is used per 1kg of grain which treats approximately one acre.
• Applicants are limited to a maximum purchase of two cases, at one time **however, due to extremely limited supply, purchase may be limited to one case.**

Please visit the Government of Alberta website below for further details and information regarding RGS management:

https://www.alberta.ca/richardsons-ground-squirrel-control#strychnine-access

More information will be provided as it is available. Please contact Agricultural Services at the MD with any quesitons.

Thank you for your patience—please stay tuned for further details.