‘It’s simply dangerous’: last-minute appeal to stop city from using rodenticides on squirrels

The City of Winnipeg has started its plan to control ground squirrels, but advocacy groups are appealing the pesticides being used.

The City of Winnipeg will begin managing the ground squirrel population, as advocates issue a last-minute appeal in the hopes of preventing the use of a pair of controversial rodenticides.

The city announced the program will get underway Tuesday, saying the rodents have caused significant damage to several fields.

“Ground squirrels are common in Winnipeg and cause a problem for parks maintenance and usership,” a news release from the city said. “They dig holes that destroy athletic fields and other greenspaces. These holes pose a safety hazard for pedestrians and field users.”

The city has received approval from the province for two products – Rozol, a rodent paint, and RoCon, an asphyxiant sprayed into holes, aimed at killing squirrels that come into contact with it.

The city said in a news release that the treatments are used in most major cities in Canada.

However, animal advocates are trying to put a stop to the city’s use of the rodenticides.

The Winnipeg Humane Society, Animal Justice and James Hare, a biological science professor from the University of Manitoba, are now appealing directly to Mike Moyes, Manitoba’s environmental minister.

They wrote a letter to Moyes, calling on him to suspend and ultimately revoke the permit the province issued allowing the city to use the two pesticides.

Speaking Tuesday, Hare said he believes the two products can cause prolonged suffering to the animals. He said the risk of the poison entering the food chain and harming other animals is too great.

“It’s simply dangerous to have persistent pesticides out in the environment,” he said.

Hare believes control is necessary and should be happening, but believes live trapping and humane euthanasia are better courses of action.

“I think it’s highly feasible,” he said. “They can be live-trapped readily with the same staff that you have employed to deploy these rodenticides at the various sites. You can live trap them, you can transport them to a central location, and have a veterinarian euthanize them as they’re transported.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Minister Moyes said the decision to use the pesticides is based on science and both national and provincial safeguards.

“Both Rozol and RoCon are registered by Health Canada, which means they have undergone rigorous scientific evaluation to ensure they do not pose unacceptable risks when used as directed,” the spokesperson said in part.

The city will use the chemicals at nine fields; Beryl Watts Park; Charleswood Place; Fairgrove Bay Park; Shaughnessy Park; St. James Memorial Sports Park; Theodore Niitzhotay Fontaine Park; Weston Memorial Community Centre; Woodsworth Park; and the Clifton site at the Valour Community Centre.

According to a news release, signage will be posted 24 hours before and after the poisons are used. The sites will be monitored and ground squirrel carcasses will be removed promptly.

The city added they are only licenced to use the chemicals for the 2026 season and will form a committee to explore future pest management options.

-With files from CTV’s Will Reimer