A plague of mice, described by local authorities as biblical in scale, is sweeping across eastern Australia, devastating crops and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. The outbreak, concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland, has seen rodent numbers explode to levels not witnessed in decades, driven by ideal breeding conditions following a period of drought and heavy rain.
Grain storage facilities have been overrun, with mice contaminating feed and gnawing through machinery wiring. Farmers report losses of up to 30 per cent of their harvest, with some fields entirely stripped. The economic toll is mounting: the New South Wales Farmers Association estimates damage already exceeds $100 million, a figure that will likely rise as the infestation continues into the winter planting season.
The crisis has prompted the Australian government to approve an emergency permit for the use of bromadiolone, a highly potent anticoagulant rodenticide typically banned due to its risk to wildlife. Environmental groups have raised concerns, warning that secondary poisoning could affect native birds of prey and other animals. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority has imposed strict conditions on its use, including mandatory baiting plans and reporting requirements.
For farmers like John McCarthy, who runs a mixed grain and livestock operation near Dubbo, the situation is dire. "You walk into a shed and the floor moves. It's carnage. We have lost tonnes of grain, and now the mice are eating through our silo bags as fast as we can lay them out," he told reporters. Many are resorting to homemade traps and trench digging, efforts that have proved futile against the sheer scale of the infestation.
Scientists attribute the plague to a convergence of climatic factors. Three years of drought reduced predator populations, while heavy rains last year created abundant food and nesting sites. The mice, which breed every three weeks, quickly reached plague proportions. Andrew Binns, a rodent ecologist at the University of Sydney, said: "This is a perfect storm. Without a sustained cold snap or widespread natural predation, the population will remain high into early next year."
The psychological toll is significant. Mental health support services have reported a surge in calls from rural communities, where isolation and financial pressure already run high. The New South Wales government has allocated $50 million in emergency assistance, including rebates for bait and counselling services. But farmers say more needs to be done, including compensation for crop losses and a coordinated control strategy.
The mouse plague underscores the fragility of agricultural systems in the face of climate variability. As extreme weather events become more frequent, experts warn that such outbreaks may become more common, requiring new approaches to pest management and rural resilience. For now, farmers are left to battle a relentless enemy, one small but devastating in its collective force."
