Pest Control

Health Canada ended the sales of 2% Liquid Strychnine for gopher control in March 2022.  Strychnine possession and use is prohibited  as of March 2023.  

Options to help control gophers (Richardson’s ground squirrel and Northern pocket gophers):

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

• Consider raptor platforms, nesting boxes, perches, dense groundcover along fences and field margins, and other wildlife habitat to encourage natural predation
• Reduce preferred gopher habitat by maintaining healthy pastures and using rotational grazing

BAITING OPTIONS 

Products described below are not meant to be a complete available list of options. These are not recommendations but are being presented as information to integrate with best practices and effective control for your specific needs and conditions. Always follow label directions for the product you are using.

• Rozol is registered for control of ground squirrels and pocket gophers in rangelands, crop, and non-crop areas. Rozol is available from Agricultural Product Retailers.
• Burrow Oat Bait is a zinc phosphide product.  It works comparable to strychnine.  
• Rocon is a poison-free rodenticide registered for control of gophers

For more details on the above mentioned options, click here to view the County of Vermilion River's informative pamplet.  

More information on gopher control is available from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. 

A limited number of skunk traps are available to residents. A deposit may be required for using a trap. Arrangements must be made in advance with the Village of Marwayne administration office as quantities are limited. 

For more information on the Biology and Control of Skunks – please visit the Alberta Agriculture  website. 

A limited number of Raccoon Traps are available to residents. Trapped Racoons are not handled or relocated by the Village of Marwayne staff.