Two dangerous poisons – strychnine and Compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) – are currently allowed to be used under federal permits to control large predators like wolves, coyotes and bears. Used mostly in Alberta and Saskatchewan as an indiscriminate means of protecting livestock, these poisons have still shown up in B.C. killing our wildlife and pets.

Although it is illegal under the BC Wildlife Act to use poisons to kill wolves, bears and coyotes without a permit, there have been several incidences of dogs and wolves being baited with strychnine in communities near the Alberta border. These poisons cause intense suffering and pain, and animals can experience seizures and asphyxiation before death hours or days later. No animal should have to die such an inhumane death.

Health Canada is the federal agency that approves poison use in wildlife control. In 2019, the BC SPCA submitted a thorough evidence-based assessment criteria for humaneness to Health Canada. Unfortunately, they announced in 2021 that humaneness would not be used in their criteria to assess what poisons should and shouldn’t be allowed.