Mice plague devastates country towns in regional Queensland

Residents in regional Queensland are reporting record numbers of mice, as farmers battle hordes of the outback pests following the heavy rain period.

Residents in regional Queensland are reporting record numbers of mice, as farmers battle hordes of the outback pests following the heavy rain period.

Locals in towns throughout the North Burnett region including Gayndah, Monto and Biggenden say they are catching hundreds a day.

Speaking to the Courier Mail, resident Susie Capewell said she had spoken to a man who woke up with a mouse nibbling 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.

“It was terrible.”

Animal experts have previously warned to stay vigilant against rising animal numbers across the country, with another potential plague on the horizon.

Last year, rodents spread across regional communities costing NSW grain growers more than $1 billion in damage, according to some estimates.

Twitter account MouseAlert has identified growing populations in Central Queensland, the Southern Riverina in NSW, the Northern Valley in Victoria, the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and Western Australia.

Gayndah’s Norco Rural Store owner Beau Jordan estimated a “thousand” mice were finding their way inside his father’s property per day.

Last year, rodents spread across regional communities costing NSW grain growers more than $1 billion in damage, according to some estimates.

Gayndah’s Norco Rural Store owner Beau Jordan estimated thousands of mice were making their way inside his father’s property per day. He said they were catching up to 200-300 a day and risk losing fortunes wasting time on pest clean-up.

“Too many to count really,” Mr Jordan said.

“Every day they get into our stock and damage it. Chew through wires, computer systems, plastic containers.

“We’d be getting a thousand a day, it’s pretty bad. For us with all the feed, we’re getting hammered.”

CSIRO mice expert Steve Henry said farmers were aware of the dangers of a mouse plague but should be proactive to stop another disaster.

“The outbreak had such an impact on people that they really don‘t want them to come back, so they’re being really vigilant about them,” Mr Henry said

A wet start to the year has seen summer crops harvested late and there are early reports that abundant feed has fuelled a bumper autumn breeding season.

“But if you get a low level of winter survival, then when they start breeding next spring they start from a much lower population base and the rate of increase is slower,” Mr Henry said.

CSIRO researchers have found in a laboratory study that mice were able to survive eating bait that should have delivered a lethal blow.

CSIRO researchers have found in a laboratory study that mice were able to survive eating bait that should have delivered a lethal blow.

The study results arrived just as the mouse plague started to gain momentum last year and caused concern that current baiting measures were inadequate for controlling a plague.

“They were living to tell the story and we thought well what‘s going on?” Mr Henry said.

An emergency use permit for double strength Zinc Phosphide bait at 50 grams per kilogram was introduced and remains the preferred mice baiting option for farmers.