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1. Is there way we can create something, such as another poison that will not harm other animals?
2. Is there a way we can safely export these animals to a safe designated place for these animals?
3. Could Saskatchewan and Albertan farmers personally show and talk to the government and explain why we need help with controlling these animals?

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This is a picture I drew on Pixteller. This is supposed to show that if we do not try to slow the population of gophers, Farmers crops will start getting worse and worse every year.

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This picture is burrows from gophers holes that destroy agricultural land. This leaves less room for plants to grow, kills plants, and can be dangerous for livestock and horses. Photo by Robert Timm.

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This is a picture of a gopher eating a root. These animals destroy crops and grazing land by eating all the plants. These animals have to fatten up for there hibernation and are eating constantly. This is how they destroy the plants. Photo by Shuttershock.

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Short Documentary on the social life of prairie dogs. 

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Short Documentary on the social life of prairie dogs. 

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This video also shocked me because this gave me more insight on to their social life. I never knew that each colony battle with each other of land and territory. Also there are many types of them. As well as that every species has there own way of living and different way of digging and hibernation. I have a few questions, like are gophers a prairie species. As well as more just on the gophers around Saskatchewan and Alberta and their way of life.

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Short Documentary on Prairie Dogs. The Prairie Dog Life. Jan 21, 2017

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Short Documentary on Prairie Dogs. The Prairie Dog Life. Jan 21, 2017

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This documentary is on Prairie Dogs (bigger gophers) This documentary is very interesting. I knew they were smart but did not know that they were that smart and social. It is also cool that there families are similar to the typical c
Canadian family.  I am just curious on how they can understand each other when there calls are so similar. Also do you know how many die a year roughly to humans. Lastly is the average life span of them if they are not killed early. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q05A6WJZ6ng

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Everything is this article I believe is spot on. This article states the problems with the gophers population. The facts on strychnine are there. It does indeed sometimes kill non targeted like a fox. Usually foxes and coyotes are the only animals who die from a dead poisoned gopher. Because they eat everything including the guts where the poison is. My grandpa says from poisoning gophers all his life, he has only killed 2 foxes by accident .https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/livestock/pastures-grazing-hay-silage/control-of-richardson-ground-squirrel

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There is going to be a huge issue when the ban of strychnine is complete. There is going to be a huge increase of gopher population. This will cause lots of damage and income to farmers and ranchers around Saskatchewan and Alberta. They will continue to grow and destroy grasslands and farm lands, used for people and other wild animals.  https://www.cbc.ca/archives/from-2001-a-gopher-related-emergency-in-saskatchewan-1.5170911

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I read an article from CBC on the ban of strychnine poison used by farmers and ranchers to control the population of gophers on the parries. I was shocked at the argument Heath Canada put up. They did not have much to say. All they said was there was a "risk" of other animals being killed. They also said  there was environmental hazards from the use of poison. They did not say how though. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/health-canada-bans-strychnine-richardsons-ground-squirrel-1.5488922#:~:text=McIntosh%2FCanadian%20Press)-,Health%20Canada%20is%20moving%20forward%20with%20a%20ban%20on%20using,strychnine%20to%20kill%20prairie%20gophers.&text=In%202018%2C%20Health%20Canada%20cited,their%20burrows%20can%20injure%20livestock.

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The Richardson Ground Squirrel (Gopher)  Urocitellus Richardsonii

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The Richardson Ground Squirrel (Gopher)  Urocitellus Richardsonii

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The Richardson Ground Squirrel, also know as gophers, which is what I will call them for this. Gophers are not considered invasive species from what I could find. In my opinion I believe they should be. It is very true that they are part of an important prairie food chain. But these animals are very over populated in some parts of Saskatchewan. When these animals start to get over populated and out of hand, they tend to destroy and demolish farm and agricultural land. This land is very important to the economy of our provinces, country, and most parts of the world and some places even wildlife. Now if you do not know exactly how could such little animals do this much damage. Well most people know they dig holes and eat the vegetation around them. So for an example. You have a native grass field for grazing cattle. In the spring when the gophers start coming and giving birth to young ones. They start digging more holes every where lessening the amount of grass. But that's not it, they start feeding on the green fresh spring grass and chew it right down to the ground, this causes less grazing for cattle and lots more money for the ranchers in many ways. Such as buying new land for more grazing or even calves that are supposed to be sold in the fall, and they are not gaining the weight they should be from lack of food. But not only do they hurt farms and ranchers, they cause less food for animals like antelope who have to use the prairies to graze.
Richardson's Ground Squirrels: FAQ