04/27/2026
** The RM of Canaan No. 225 Council will discuss the potential use of strychnine at their May 7 meeting **
Please contact the RM office before that date if you're interested in taking the training and using strychnine.
STRYCHNINE: An Overview of Requirements for Participating Rural Municipalities - April 2026 Update
There are several requirements for the emergency use registration of 2 per cent Liquid Strychnine and the Stewardship Program criteria must be met by participating RMs. A significant time commitment is required to ensure the requirements are met. Failure to adhere to the requirements could mean the RM will lose access and have limited future access to strychnine and alternate rodenticides in the province.
Strychnine will only be available through distributing RMs. All Users and RM personnel must complete mandatory pesticide and vendor training to distribute strychnine. RMs will also be required to track and keep records of strychnine user mandatory training confirmation.
The emergency use for strychnine to control Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (RGS) is intended for a late-summer application in 2026 and a spring application and late summer application in 2027.
RMs may only distribute strychnine to eligible ratepayers and pest control personnel who have met all requirements. RMs distributing strychnine will be required to:
• Confirm that users have completed training before accessing strychnine.
• Ensure users fill out forms completely, and follow up with users if any information is missing.
• Input all required information in a manner prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Records will be monitored by Ministry of Agriculture officials.
• Support Species at Risk (SAR) assessment on each treatment location and ensure risk mitigation criteria are met prior to sale of strychnine.
• Confirm that users have appropriate integrated pest management strategies and risk mitigation strategies in their Richardson's ground squirrel management plan.
All RMs distributing strychnine will be subject to audits. Both the record management and the storage of strychnine will be audited. If the criteria of the Stewardship Program are not met by an RM, they may no longer be eligible to distribute strychnine.
Strychnine must be properly stored in a locked room or facility without public access. Users must return all unused strychnine to the RM by November 15, 2027. The RM is responsible for gathering and documenting all returned strychnine.
Please submit all requests for strychnine to the RM Administrator or Pest Control Officer; we will follow up after RM Council confirms their participation in the program.
