Fears Australian farmers will be ravaged by a second mouse plague

Fears farmers will be ravaged by a second mouse plague that destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of crops last year

  • In 2021 a mouse plague along Australia’s east coast caused widespread damage 
  • Farmers are being warned to check for rodents with reports of rising numbers 
  • CSIRO and NSW Farmers said if left unchecked there could be another swarm 

Farmers are being urged to be on the lookout for mice in their paddocks amid reports of increased numbers of the rodents across Australia’s rural regions.

Australia’s government science agency says farmers have reported increased mice activity in northern NSW, central Queensland, north western Victoria, the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and the wheat belt in Western Australia.

CSIRO research scientist Steve Henry said it can be difficult to notice growing numbers of mice before there number become too large to combat them.

‘Farmers need to get out of their vehicles and walk through their paddocks to see signs of mouse activity,’ Mr Henry said.

Mice reached plague proportions in 2020 and 2021 courtesy of an abundance of food from a bumper growing season  (pictured: mice on a NSW farm in 2021)

Just one pair of mice can quickly spread to plague proportions if the conditions are right and there is enough food, as was the case in 2021

Just one pair of mice can quickly spread to plague proportions if the conditions are right and there is enough food, as was the case in 2021 

‘We haven’t reached plague proportions but we are getting reports of higher numbers across the cropping zone and farmers need to be prepared to take action to reduce numbers as they sow the winter crop.’

Millions of dollars’ worth of crops were destroyed during last year’s mouse plague in NSW and southern Queensland, which also caused extensive damage to farm equipment, vehicles and buildings.

Mr Henry said mice are most likely to be in the unharvested summer crops, and in the winter crop stubble where grain has been left behind.

‘As it gets colder mice are also seeking shelter and are venturing into houses and other buildings,’ he said.

Farmer Eric Fishpool lifts a tarp on his farm in  Tottenham as mice scurry away amid the 2021 mice plague in NSW and Queensland

Farmer Eric Fishpool lifts a tarp on his farm in  Tottenham as mice scurry away amid the 2021 mice plague in NSW and Queensland 

NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin has also urged farmers to survey their properties for signs of rodent activity in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year.

‘Let’s make sure we all get out of the ute and into the paddock to make sure we avoid another plague,’ he said on Monday.

Some farmers have increased baiting in a bid to suppress mice numbers.

The NSW government introduced a rebate for zinc phosphide bait last year.

CSIRO data indicated patchy numbers of mice across NSW but Mr Martin said farmers were reporting more rodents running around their properties.

‘What we don’t want to see is a repeat of last year’s mouse plague, so please if you see something, say something,’ he said.

One third of farmers surveyed by NSW Farmers estimated their crop losses at between $50,000 and $150,000 during last year’s mice wave.

Last year's mouse plague (pictured) is estimated to have cost the NSW farming sector close to millions last year with concerns a second plague could happen in 2022

Last year’s mouse plague (pictured) is estimated to have cost the NSW farming sector close to millions last year with concerns a second plague could happen in 2022