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Humane Society speaks out against Winnipeg’s plans for controlling squirrels on sports fields

An animal advocacy group is speaking out against the City of Winnipeg’s plans to use sulfur gas to keep ground squirrels from damaging the municipality’s high-end sports fields.

Global News reports the Winnipeg Humane Society claims the tactic causes suffering and stress to the animals.

Control measures were adopted in 2015 with carbon monoxide listed as the preferred strategy. It was deemed unsafe for city workers, however, and the sulfur gas method was proposed.

Ground squirrels are drawn to a field’s berms where spectators traverse, digging holes and creating tripping hazards. The humane society recommends non-lethal methods of control such as live traps or covering holes with other materials.

To read the full story from Global News, click here.

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