04/03/2026
URGENT: The Silent Killer is back on the Prairies.
Despite a 2026 rejection by health experts (Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s - PMRA) due to extreme risks to wildlife, the Canadian government has just greenlit the emergency use of Strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan through 2027.
This isn’t just a ground squirrel problem it’s an ecosystem disaster.
Why this is a nightmare for our wildlife:
Secondary Poisoning: A Snowy Owl, an Eagle or a Hawk doesn’t have to eat the bait to die. One meal of a poisoned ground squirrel is enough to kill a majestic raptor in a slow, agonizing way.
Scavengers at Risk: Coyotes, Red Foxes, Swift Foxes, and even family dogs are at high risk. Strychnine is a brutal neurotoxin that stays active in carcasses, creating a lethal ripple effect up the food chain.
Snowy Owls are in Trouble: Our iconic Snowy Owls were just designated as Threatened. Using strychnine on their primary winter food source (ground squirrels) is a massive blow to their survival.
The Conflict: The PMRA said NO because the risks were too high. The government overrode that science to address crop damage, ignoring the fact that killing natural predators (owls, eagles, hawks, foxes and coyotes) actually makes ground squirrel outbreaks worse in the long run.
WE NEED TO SPEAK UP.
The consultation period for the Snowy Owl’s Threatened status is OPEN until Oct 14, 2026. This is our chance to tell Minister Julie Dabrusin that we cannot protect a species while simultaneously poisoning its food.
HOW TO HELP:
1. Email the Minister: [email protected] or [email protected].
2. Share this post to spread the word.
3. Support ethical photography: Never bait owls for photos—they have enough to deal with.
Let’s choose science and conservation over poison.
