City to control squirrel population in eight parks

The city will target ground squirrels in some public parks next month, saying the holes they dig destroy fields and and pose safety hazards for people and pets.

The squirrel management program was paused last year after concerns the carbon monoxide machines used to control the animals were not safe for city employees. This year, staffers will return to using a sulfur pesticide while other methods, such as carbon dioxide, are researched, a recent city report noted.

“Once the population of ground squirrels gets high, they only really grow higher over time, and they can get to a situation that’s really out of control,” said Dave Domke, manager of parks and open space for the city. “We’ve had a lot of concerns from a lot of the neighbourhoods about the ground squirrels.”

The city will target eight public parks from the middle of May until October, using a pesticide called Giant Destroyer to drop inside holes and tunnels made by the animals. The pesticide is lethal to squirrels.

Domke said the city has no other option, noting people have tripped over the dips and holes the squirrels make in athletic fields and other green spaces. He said he’s even heard reports of pets breaking legs.

James Hare, professor emeritus in the department of biological sciences at the University of Manitoba, criticized the city, saying it should set traps for the animals instead.

“The use of sulfurous gas is not at all humane, this is not the way to go out,” Hare said, noting having veterinarians euthanize the animals caught in traps would be ideal.

Domke said the city explored the possibility but found it to be impractical.

“It’s very expensive, we’re talking about thousands of animals here, we’re not talking about hundreds,” said Domke. “Again, very cumbersome method of (controlling) them, and may not result in anything much better than what we’re offering right now.”

Hare said if the city started population control earlier in the spring, it would receive more efficient results. Adult ground squirrels are usually in hibernation in May and the pesticide may not reach the animals, who construct walls in their burrows, he said. If the squirrel problem was attacked earlier, the pregnant mothers could be targeted before their babies are born and go above ground.

City workers will visit the parks once a month to control the population at: Charleswood Place, Beryl Watts Park/Vince Leah Community Centre, Fairgrove Bay Park, Woodsworth Park, Shaughnessy Park, Weston Memorial Community Centre, Theodore Niitzhotay Fontaine Park and the St. James Memorial Sports Park.

Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), chairwoman of the community services committee, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca