Winnipeg and ground squirrels

In a move shocking to many local animal lovers, the City of Winnipeg has opted to go ahead with its plan to kill ground squirrels at nine city parks and fields via methods that animal advocates say will cause prolonged pain and suffering — and not only for the squirrels, but possibly other wildlife and companion animals, too.

After hearing from experts and animal advocates, and after more than year to research and develop more humane and effective methods to deal with the animals and the holes they naturally create, city officials have made no progress. Instead, they are going backwards, seemingly doubling down on the potential harm.

Last year’s attempt by the city to exterminate the small burrowing animals was nixed by the province, leaving animal advocates — and surely the squirrels — relieved for the reprieve. Of course, we thought, utilizing a gas named “Giant Destroyer” would never get the green light.

And thankfully compassion and common sense prevailed. Or so we thought.

Turns out it was not a stay of execution but rather a mere delay for these animals whose only offence is engaging in natural behaviours — including building seemingly-safe homes for themselves and their young. And the methods of execution have only gotten worse.

One such plan involves injecting burrows with a suffocating irritant foam known as RoCon. It works by sealing up the underground tunnels, choking the animals trapped inside. Unless they manage to run out another entrance, or find an air pocket, rendering the whole endeavor useless.

The other method calls for placing anticoagulant bait containing chlorophacinone into the animals’ burrow systems. Once ingested, the poison prevents the blood from clotting, leading to increasing weakness, tremors and loss of coordination, all before the animal eventually dies from internal bleeding. This can take days.

But that’s not all. As the Winnipeg Humane Society notes in a recent statement on social media, killing ground squirrels via poisoned bait “may have unintended impacts — potentially including death — on non-target animals such as coyotes, red foxes, weasels, birds of prey and companion animals who consume the poison baits or the poisoned ground squirrels.”

The WHS adds it is “extremely disappointed” by the decision, explaining it spent the past year urging the city to consider more humane approaches, “including live trapping and exclusion methods,” and to update its policies to prioritize “humane and ethical” ground squirrel control that relies on non-lethal solutions whenever possible.

The city didn’t listen — not to the WHS, not to local activists with Manitoba Animal Save, not to national animal law organization Animal Justice, not to University of Manitoba biological science professor James Hare, who has been telling the media for years how important these animals are for local ecosystems.

“Instead, the city has chosen to plow ahead with a cruel plan that will see public dollars spent on causing excruciating suffering to ground squirrels and other wild animals and even puts dogs and cats at risk of being poisoned,” says Animal Justice’s director of legal advocacy, Kaitlyn Mitchell. “The city’s focus on this reactionary, quick-fix approach, rather than doing the work needed to develop a humane, proactive plan, is seriously disappointing.”

Nonetheless, the WHS is hopeful that continued dialogue with officials will result in a positive outcome for the squirrels.

The organization is appealing the decision to the minister of Environment and Climate Change, aiming to have the permit overturned. “We’ll also be asking the minister to suspend the permit approval until the appeal is decided,” says Krista Boryskavich, director of animal advocacy and legal and government affairs.

Boryskavich also explains that the Environmental Approvals Branch has put a condition on the permit that the city is to create an Environmental Advisory Committee to advise the city on ground squirrel management. “We hope that the city will implement this committee even if the permit approval is overturned. The WHS will be seeking a seat on the committee to ensure that humane and ethical animal welfare considerations are part of the planning process.”

We all hope city officials will listen then.

If not, perhaps when young soccer players start tripping over mistakenly poisoned wildlife, or dog and cat owners start fearing their pet may have consumed a poisoned animal, officials will reconsider their toxic decision.

Jessica Scott-Reid is a Winnipeg-based journalist and animal advocate. She is also a correspondent for Sentient Media, and a member of the Winnipeg Humane Society’s animal protection committee.