Farmers often find gophers adorable with their chubby cheeks and playful antics, but these creatures pose a significant threat by damaging crops and machinery. The ban on using strychnine to control gopher populations due to its risks to wildlife led the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation to launch a free gopher control program in response to farmer requests.
Executive director Todd Smith explained that interested farmers can reach out to the organization, which will then connect them with nearby volunteers trained to assist. While the initiative is beneficial, James Husband, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Hazelwood, pointed out that gophers reproduce rapidly, presenting a persistent challenge.
Edmond Sanganyado, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, advocated for humane methods like shooting gophers over using strychnine, highlighting the quick and humane nature of such actions. With male gophers emerging in mid-February and females following in mid-March, the current period is optimal for controlling their populations to minimize crop damage.
Some farmers have turned to alternatives like zinc phosphide in the absence of strychnine, although these methods are less effective, more labor-intensive, and costly.