Grain belt hit by worst mouse plague in years

Mouse numbers person exploded to plague proportions crossed Western Australia’s atom belt, with experts warning the outbreak is among the worst the state has seen.

CSIRO researcher Steve Henry says surveys successful cardinal cropping regions person recovered up to 4000 burrows per hectare, peculiarly astir Northampton, northbound of Geraldton, and betwixt Albany and Esperance adjacent Ravensthorpe.

On blimpish estimates of 1 rodent per burrow, that equates to astir 4000 mice per hectare.

Mouse plagues are a well–known hazard for atom growers successful NSW and South Australia, but historically person been uncommon successful WA.

Henry said the existent outbreak was 1 of the worst successful caller years, with truck drivers telling CSIRO researchers travelling the outback roads was “like driving crossed atom bubbles”.

“This is importantly worse than the outbreak they had successful 2022,” helium said.

“It’s astir apt 1 of the worst they’ve ever had implicit successful the west.”

The surge successful numbers follows bully rainfall and strong crops aft adust spells – perfect conditions for mice, which breed astatine a ferocious rate.

They tin start breeding astatine six weeks old, producing six to 10 pups each 19 to 21 days and falling large again within days of giving birth.

“There’s nary interruption successful pup production,” Henry said.

“While they’re rearing the archetypal litter, they’re gestating the second.”

Farmers’ main power tool is zinc phosphide bait, spread crossed paddocks successful a bid to propulsion numbers down earlier winter, so less mice survive to harm ripening crops successful spring.

Field trials connected SA’s Adelaide Plains person shown well–timed baiting tin wipe retired section populations, with traps dropping from saturation levels to zero overnight.

But a crisp summation successful request from WA has raised concerns astir supply, with fears much whitethorn not go available until the extremity of May.

There is nary national assistance for baiting, leaving growers to sorb the outgo alongside higher substance and fertiliser prices.

Mouse populations tin yet clang when nutrient runs abbreviated and illness and stress take hold, often starring to cannibalism.

Source: AAP