Humane Society to appeal after province approves rodenticides for ground squirrels in city parks

The province approved the City of Winnipeg’s rodenticide use to control ground squirrel populations.

The provincial government has approved the City of Winnipeg’s permit to use two rodenticides to control ground squirrel populations in several city parks—a move drawing strong criticism from the Winnipeg Humane Society, which says it plans to appeal the decision.

In a statement, the City of Winnipeg confirmed the province approved the use of two products: Rozol RTU Field Rodent Bait, a pesticide that reduces blood clotting, and RoCon Concentrate Rodenticide, a biodegradable foam asphyxiant derived from mustard plants.

The city said the rodenticides will be used in nine parks with athletic fields, some of which it said were forced to closed in recent years because of ground squirrel activity.

The sites include Bery Watts, Fairgrove Bay, Shaughnessy, St. James Memorial Sports, Theodore Niitzhotay Fontaine and Woodsworth parks.

Charleswood Place, Weston Memorial Community Centre and Valour Community Centre’s Clifton site are also expected to be impacted, with applications slated to start in early spring.

A spokesperson for the city said the ground squirrels dig holes that destroy athletic fields and other greenspaces, which pose safety hazards and problems for park maintenance.

“These treatments, which are used in most major prairie cities, pose limited risk to other animals and humans,” reads the statement.

The city said treatment sites will be monitored daily while the rodenticide is in use, with any dead animals promptly removed. Signage will also be posted 24 hours in advance of the treatment and remain in place afterward, it said.

On Saturday, the spokesperson said this is the first time the city has been approved to use the two products to control ground squirrel populations.

“Historically, Winnipeg used poison to control ground squirrel numbers,” the spokesperson said in an email. “We later used both sulfur gas and carbon monoxide following concerns about undue suffering caused by the poison.

“While carbon monoxide is an effective treatment, the machines used to apply it are not always safe for staff to use.”

However, the Winnipeg Humane Society said it is “extremely disappointed” by the province’s decision in a social medial statement.

The nonprofit argues the method will cause “slow and painful deaths” for ground squirrels and could harm other wildlife. It said animals such as coyotes, red foxes, weasels, and birds of prey could potentially be affected—or even die—if they consume the baits or the affected ground squirrels.

The Humane Society said the city has previously been presented with “more humane” alternative solutions, including live trapping and exclusion methods.

The nonprofit said it plans to appeal the province’s decision with Manitoba’s minister of environment and climate change.

In an emailed statement on Saturday, a provincial ministerial spokesperson said they cannot comment on potential appeals.

“All of our appeals are made under rigorous review in accordance with the Environment Act,” the spokesperson added.