‘Horrible pests’: How the NSW mice plague is infesting the Northern Rivers

A widespread infestation is at an all time high across NSW, including on the Northern Rivers. Read these horror local stories.

Rural communities in regional NSW have been battling a plague of mice that are destroying their livelihoods, including parts of the Northern Rivers.: David Swift

The NSW mice plague is continuing to cause widespread chaos across the state, including agricultural and residential spots on the Northern Rivers.

There is an estimated one billion mice scouring the state destroying millions of dollars worth of crops, homes and infrastructure.

For many farmers, the plague is one of the worst natural disasters they’ve lived through, as they catch up to 15-20 mice a day.

There are now fears the mice plague could last for up to two years, with government-funded MouseAlert website shows sightings have doubled since March,

The infestation has led many, including locals, to despair and exhaustion or as reader Paris Gibson points out with her nail-on-the-head comment: “I would cry”.

Rural communities in NSW have been battling a plague of mice that are destroying their livelihoods. Picture: David Swift

Here’s what others Northern Rivers have said about the mice plague:

We had a rat problem in Ballina for months, we couldn’t get rid of them. They are still here just not in the house thankfully – Bec Brown

They are bad at Wardell. Can‘t bait them as there are snakes and other animals that eat them. Lay traps out and still no slowing them down. They are horrible pests. – Shauna Geoghegan

I live in the Riverina currently on a big farm and they are a plague!

They literally destroy everything here and we can‘t get them under control. It’s devastating for our farmers- Lisa Quinn

I’ve had rats or mice in my ceiling for years, the pest man puts bait up there, they die but can never stop them coming back. – Linda Irons