NSW mouse plague: Gladys Berejiklian says winter will slow spread

As concern grows that NSW’s mice plague will begin migrating to urban areas, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the ‘dire’ situation can’t be underestimated.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is hopeful the cooler months will slow down the spread of the NSW mice plague and prevent it from hitting major cities.

Millions of mice are on track to hit major civic centres after devastating regional NSW.

“It is a dire situation and of course we’re trying to source the best way of dealing with the plague and supporting farmers and communities,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I can’t underestimate what a terrible situation it is. The expert advice to the government is that colder weather conditions do assist, so hopefully, the colder months will assist.

“I hope the plague is not transported to other parts of the state. But unfortunately, this is what happens when you have the conditions that have led up to this event — fires and massive floods — which have allowed the reproduction (of the rodent).

“But I’m advised the colder weather will slow down the plague.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos MAY 20, 2021: Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce and NSW Health Dr Jeremy McAnulty provide an update on the vaccine rollout in Sydney, Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

It comes as her government announced a local supply for the world’s best mice killer – however farmers are

it may not be enough to stop the plague.

Producers across NSW who have been battling millions of mice for months have welcomed the government announcement of securing the world’s strongest mice-killing chemical but are worried it may not be enough.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said 5000L of bromadiolone has been sourced locally and will be distributed when it is given approval from the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

Mice have plagued regional areas like Dubbo for months. Picture: Sarah Malone

Bait stations are being placed in every part of homes to stop the vermin.

The chemical is used for baiting crop perimeters and stops the rodents from entering the land. However, it does little when the mice have infested the property.

NSW Farmers Grains Committee Chair Matthew Madden welcomed the announcement but was concerned about how far the 5,000 litres would stretch.

“You can use 1kg of bromadiolone per kilometre and some individual farmers will be needing to bait up to 100km per property,” he said.

“We’ve been waiting on the details on how the $50 million allocated from the NSW government will be spent and we welcome the support. I might be too late but it is better than never.”

If farmers want to protect their crop they will need to use the bromadiolone to create a perimeter around their property and if the rodents get through that, a zinc phosphate chemical to kill them.

Matthew Madden and his son Alexander have had their crop decimated by the rodents. Picture: supplied. .

Mr Madden added farmers had been holding out hope the cold weather would lessen the plague but that has not yet happened.

“In the past, the numbers had dropped a lot through winter. They haven’t so far and if they don’t spring will be a disaster,” he said.

“They are just causing so much damage everywhere. I’ve had a tractor burnt by the mice, they ate through the wiring which started a fire. I’m not sure about what other machinery they have destroyed.”

The NSW government said in a statement that bromadiolone will only be handled by Local Land Services experts when the grain is being treated.

Landholders will also be educated on best practice and will need to adhere to strict APVMA guidelines when handling treated grain.

The free grain treatment is part of the NSW Government’s $50 million support package to manage the impacts on regional communities, which also includes rebates for households and small businesses, community workshops and targeted pest research.

Taj Fitzgibbon of Tamworth demonstrates his homemade mouse trap using a plastic kitchen bin and peanut butter as bait.

MOUSE TRAP TAMWORTH STYLE

Primary school students have taken up the fight against the mice plague engulfing NSW.

With millions of the rodents crawling across rural and regional areas children have created inventive ways of catching the suckers.

Taj Fitzgibbon, 7, made a trap out of a plastic kitchen bin and peanut butter.

“What the mice do, they walk up, walk up, walk up (a plastic ramp), until they get to this red bucket,” he said.

“Then they sniff the peanut butter and then they fall into the trap, and it has water in there, and then yeah …”