River Murray floods cause mouse mayhem in the city: 50 mice a week scurrying through Golden Grove property

The River Murray floods have caused mouse mayhem in the city, with a northeastern suburbs woman saying as many as 50 mice a week are scurrying across her property.

Adelaide residents are reporting an influx of mice at their properties, with some homeowners dealing with up to 50 rodents a week

Golden Grove resident, Sonia Blackwell, 59, said mice had managed to enter her house and were “eating through the wall”.

“Those aerial ports that you plug TV into, there was one that was slightly loose and they ate around that. I stuffed it full of steel wool and they ate around (it),” she said.

“They came in through the internet ports in the wall, and I heard them scurrying in the roof and in the walls.”

Ms Blackwell said she was able to temporarily fix the issue inside her home after seeking help but has not managed to keep the mice off her property.

“They dig tunnels underneath the ground and dig up into the aviaries,” she said.

“I have caught a few inside the house and relocated them in those cruelty-free traps because I can’t bear the thought of killing anything (directly).”

A mouse caught at Golden Grove property. Picture: Supplied

A mouse caught at Golden Grove property. Picture: Supplied

Allan Balshaw, from Precision Pest Control, said a higher number of mice were around this year, thanks in large part to the River Murray floods.

Mr Balshaw said the water levels had flushed out the rodents, which had sought “higher ground” in rural and vacant properties to the north of Adelaide, before moving into the suburbs.

“Weather plays a huge part,” he said. “Now the adults have got to drier land and they are continuing to breed.”

Ms Blackwell, a birdkeeper, said despite setting mouse traps, they still made their way around her backyard.

In one instance, she said she found “15 dead mice” in the aviary.

Ms Blackwell believed there are about 50 mice dashing through her property on a weekly basis, as she keeps finding “five or six new holes” in the ground every day.

“I keep buying poison and putting it down, but (with the) big aviaries, it’s too late to lift them and put mesh underneath them,” she said.

“They run up and try get in the mesh then get stuck halfway, it’s terrible. I’ve had to actually cut or pull them out because they’re stuck in the mesh.

“I’ve found three or four dead ones in the aviary, (and) a couple of mice that have eaten the poison.

“I’m working all day, every day, replacing things, cleaning things and filling in holes that they’ve dug, (or) putting poison down. I’m actually thinking about getting rid of my birds because of it.”

Mr Balshaw said residents with mice issues should call a professional pest controller to fix the problem.

“If you try and do it yourself, it can become nasty, especially if you have another pet,” he said.