Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg will begin its 2026 ground squirrel management program today.
Ground squirrels are common in Winnipeg and cause a problem for parks maintenance and usership. They dig holes that destroy athletic fields and other greenspaces. These holes pose a safety hazard for pedestrians and field users.
The Province of Manitoba has approved the use of two rodenticides:
- Rozol RTU Field Rodent Bait (an anticoagulant pesticide)
- RoCon Concentrate Rodenticide (a biodegradable foam asphyxiant derived from the white mustard plant).
We will use them to treat athletic fields at nine parks:
- Beryl Watts Park/Vince Leah Community Centre
- Charleswood Place
- Fairgrove Bay Park
- Shaughnessy Park
- St. James Memorial Sports Park
- Theodore Niitzhotay Fontaine Park
- Weston Memorial Community Centre
- Woodsworth Park
- Valour Community Centre – Clifton Site
We were forced to close some of these fields to users over the last few years because of ground squirrel damage. The treatments we chose are used in most major Canadian cities.
They pose limited risk to other animals and people.
To help mitigate any risks we will:
- Monitor treatment sites daily to ensure treatment only reaches ground squirrels and mitigate harm to other animals
- Promptly remove dead ground squirrels
- Post signage at the treatment site from 24 hours before treatment until 24 hours after we’re done
- Apply treatment using only licensed pesticide applicators and following label directions
So far, we are only licensed to apply these chemicals for the 2026 season. We will form an Environmental Advisory Committee to explore future pest management options.