03/17/2026
‼️ ACTION ALERT ‼️
Appeal the Province’s Decision to Permit Poisoning of Ground Squirrels in Winnipeg
We need YOUR help.
The Province of Manitoba has approved the City of Winnipeg’s application to use the rodenticides Rozol RTU Field Rodent Bait and RoCon Concentrate Rodenticide to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels on city fields.
Despite strong public opposition, the permit has now been issued for one year.
Rozol is an anticoagulant rodenticide, which cause animals to die slowly from internal bleeding. Rocon is a foaming liquid that quickly expands in the burrow, causing death by suffocation or by the animal's drowning in the foam. These rodenticides also pose serious risks to other wildlife. Hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, dogs, and other animals can be poisoned when they consume poisoned squirrels.
While the province states that conditions have been added to “mitigate risks,” we know that rodenticides used outdoors inevitably harm non-target wildlife and disrupt urban ecosystems. Ground squirrels are a native species that play an important ecological role, including aerating soil and supporting predators that help maintain balance in our urban environment.
There are humane and non-toxic alternatives to managing burrows on athletic fields, including habitat modification, exclusion strategies, and soil management practices. The city and province has had an entire year to come up with a better strategy since last years permit for poisoning was denied.
Poisoning wildlife should not be the default solution. Suffering is not a solution.
The province claims this decision balances safe athletic fields with environmental protection, but recreation should not come at the cost of poisoning wildlife and exposing ecosystems to toxic chemicals.
We have 30 days to appeal this decision.
Anyone can submit an appeal to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Please take a few minutes to send an email asking the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mike Moyes, to overturn this permit.
Email: [email protected]
You can include points such as:
• Opposition to the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in public spaces
• Risks of secondary poisoning to hawks, foxes, coyotes, and companion animals
• The importance of protecting native wildlife species
• The availability of humane, non-toxic alternatives
• The need for the Environmental Advisory Committee to explore solutions before poisons are used
Ask the Minister to revoke the permit and work with experts and the community to develop humane, ecological approaches to coexistence.
Every message matters. Public pressure can influence future decisions and protect wildlife in our city. It did last year.
Thank you for standing up for animals and the environment.
Appeal template:
Subject: Appeal of Permit for Ground Squirrel Poisoning in Winnipeg
Dear Minister Moyes,
I am writing to appeal the decision to grant the City of Winnipeg a permit to use the rodenticides Rozol RTU Field Rodent Bait and RoCon Concentrate Rodenticide to kill Richardson's ground squirrels in Winnipeg from March to October 2026.
This anticoagulant poison and foam cause prolonged suffering and pose serious risks of secondary poisoning to owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and companion animals. Poisoning native wildlife is not an ethical or environmentally responsible solution when humane, non-toxic alternatives exist.
I urge you to revoke this permit and work with the City of Winnipeg and experts to develop humane and ecological approaches to managing ground squirrels on public land.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Winnipeg
Photo of our children with ground squirrels at The Forks, July 2025
