Winnipeg's ground squirrels get new lease on life: Sulfur gas ruled out as control measure
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Winnipeg's ground squirrels get new lease on life: Sulfur gas ruled out as control measure

Published May 31, 2025 at 9:00pm

The City of Winnipeg has lost its bid to use a controversial pesticide to kill burrowing ground squirrels that staff say have created a hazard on a number of athletic fields.

The provincial government rejected the city's application for a permit to use a sulfur gas product called "The Giant Destroyer" to kill the rodents. Their burrows create holes in the ground that can injure people and pets.

"I write to encourage the City of Winnipeg to explore alternative options that prioritize the safety and well-being of Manitobans," Mike Moyes, provincial environment and climate change minister,  wrote in a letter to the city on Thursday.