’Out of control’: MLA, residents fed up with holey, hazardous mess left by destructive ground squirrels

Amid complaints about hazardous holes spreading through local fields and parks, the province is being asked to reconsider the City of Winnipeg’s request to use a lethal pesticide on ground squirrels.

Manitoba Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux wants the government to revisit its spring decision, which denied the city a permit to use the sulfur gas product known as Giant Destroyer against the rodents or, at least, present other options.

“We have seniors who are tripping on the fields as they go for walks. We have children who are literally picking up the carcasses of these ground squirrels (due to increased population and road kill),” said Lamoureux (Tyndall Park). “I’ve had my constituents tell me… they’ve had to call exterminators because of the overpopulation burrowing around their homes.”

She’s received more than 20 complaints in recent months.

“It truly is getting out of control,” she said.

A Winnipegger who lives near Fairgrove Bay Park in Tyndall Park said she’d like to see the pesticide used, blaming ground squirrels for digging deep holes throughout the park, as well as nearby yards.

She said damage was already a concern in 2024, but grew much worse this year.

“Since when do we put the needs of rodents ahead of humans? At one point, this field used to be used by children to play soccer. It can no longer be done. We are going to lose the ability to use it and that’s not fair to us, as humans and taxpayers,” said the woman, who did not want her name published.

She said some squirrel holes are difficult to detect with grass growing around them, increasing the risk of trips and falls.

The province denied the permit to use the pesticide in May, arguing its decision balanced the safety of park visitors with environmental protection, noting 6,300 public submissions were received expressing concern about the chemical.

Some animal-rights activists and animal experts say the initial decision was correct and humane, due to concerns Giant Destroyer can cause extremely painful deaths for the creatures.

“Individual (animals may not) be exposed to a lethal concentration, so you’re causing undue suffering…. (They) can spend hours choking on sulfurous gas and still not pass away,” said James Hare, a University of Manitoba professor emeritus in biological sciences.

If it must use lethal control against ground squirrels, the city should instead trap, anesthetize and euthanize them in the spring, utilizing the type of chemicals used to put pets to sleep, Hare said.

“I think urban wildlife enriches our experience but you can’t have (the ground squirrels) burrowing into playing fields where kids are running… So, you do have to practise some control,” he said.

On Thursday, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes stood by the province’s initial decision to deny the permit.

“We (heard) back from the public, pretty overwhelmingly (on) concerns about the length (of time) for some of these animals, with Giant Destroyer, to pass,” said Moyes. “I don’t think anyone, regardless of their stance on what should be done in the parks, wants animals to suffer.”

He urged the city to reach out with alternative solutions to the problem, stressing safe access to parks and recreational space is a shared priority.

“If that means that we’re filling in the holes so that people and their pets are not getting injured, then I think we need to take that step,” he said.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said the province and city need to work out another option.

“The bottom line is we need… the province to assist us with finding a viable solution that deals permanently with the ground squirrels. I grew up on the farm. Filling the holes of a (ground squirrel) does not work. They just clean the hole out or they make new ones,” said Gillingham.

The mayor said a solution is needed soon to ensure access to recreation.

“We have an obligation, as a city, to make sure that our recreation fields are usable and playable and in safe conditions for all users. Right now, there are too many spots where the ground squirrels have caused a lot of damage,” said Gillingham.

Coun. Vivian Santos, chairwoman of community services, said the city has posted “use at your own risk” warning signs at parks due to the damage, while residents continue to complain about the issue.

“There are people who are quite upset with the rejection of the (pesticide) permit. I hope that conversations between our parks staff and the minister’s office can come up with a solution for next year,” said Santos (Point Douglas).

In an email, city spokesman Adam Campbell said the city is considering alternatives to Giant Destroyer but there is no set timeline to complete that work.

The city’s original plan would have used the pesticide 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 St. James Memorial Sports Park.

In the absence of that option, the city did not undertake any other ground squirrel control measures this year, wrote Campbell.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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