Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (commonly called gophers) are native to Alberta’s prairie regions, excluding the Peace River area. As spring draws near, so does the emergence of these pests! 

The Agricultural Services Department has assembled some tips to help you with gopher control. If you have questions, please reach out to asb@stettlercounty.ca or 403-742-4441.

Know the gopher life cycle, act early, and bait smart: keep vegetation tall, pre-bait with fresh grain, and maintain consecutive feeding for effective, humane control. Timing and consistency are key. Don’t wait for damage spikes!
Rodenticide Stewardship & Best Management Practices: Ground squirrels are active ~16 weeks/year. Timing is critical. 

Best Control Window:

Early spring – after adult emergence, before young are born and before grass greens up. 

Avoid delays (May–June) – active young & abundant vegetation reduces bait effectiveness.

Questions or want to learn more? Contact Agricultural Services at ASB@stettlercounty.ca or call 403-742-4441.