Gayndah child nearly loses finger to baited rodent as North Burnett battles mouse plague

A young girl who lives in a Queensland town overrun by a mouse plague could lose her finger after she was bitten by a rodent during sleepover that went horribly wrong.

A North Burnett mum has issued a dire warning to other parents after a bite from a baited mouse left her 7-year-old daughter at risk of losing her finger.

Shannon Riddle took to Facebook to warn the community to keep their children away from the floor, after a sleepover at a friend’s house went horribly wrong.

Ms Riddle said seven-year-old Ariella woke to the rodent nibbling on her index finger.

“After being sent to four hospitals we’re now at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital, all from a baited mouse nibbling on her finger while sleeping on the mattress on the floor,” she said.

“She could also lose her finger. The hospital is doing all they can to save it, so please everyone be careful.”

The Gayndah mum said doctors believe the serious infection, which has reportedly spread to the little girl’s bones, is the result of the mouse having recently been poisoned.

The ABC reported Ariella could stay in hospital anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on how her body responds to treatment.

Ms Riddle is warning other parents about letting their own children sleep or play on the ground as rodents continue to plague the North Burnett region, inundating homes and businesses and wreaking havoc on feed and produce.

Last month a combination of wet weather and a mild winter created the perfect storm for the rodents with an abundance of grass to devour.

Resident Susie Capewell previously told News Corp she had spoken to a man who woke up to a rodent chewing on his hand.

“I asked him what happened to your hand and he told me he woke up to them chewing on it,” Mrs Capewell said.

“His hand was all scratched up with spots on it and loose skin chewed.

Mrs Capewell said she was also bitten by one after she emptied a trap.

A number of local businesses reported thousands in losses as the mice chewed their way through produce, wires, storage containers, and more.

Gayndah’s Norco Rural Store owner Beau Jordan told News Corp they were catching 200 to 300 rodents a day at a massive cost to the family in an attempt to save their stock, which was being damaged daily.

With baiting on the rise Gayndah Vet Surgery also warned pet owners of the deadly impact the plague was having on other animals, reporting a massive rise in poisoned dogs.

Taking to Facebook in may they wrote, “there are lots of mice around at present and so far we have had three dogs and one cat die of mouse bait poisoning despite our best efforts”.

“I am also aware of other dogs that have died without treatment being attempted.”