Farmers in South Australia are facing a severe mouse plague, forcing them to adopt drastic measures such as shooting mice and burning infested crops. Social media has seen an influx of videos depicting swarms of mice migrating from Western Australia eastwards, exacerbating the already challenging conditions for the agricultural sector, which is grappling with adverse weather and rising fuel costs. Experts warn that this mouse invasion threatens to disrupt nearly $3 billion worth of grain and food exports to Australia’s Asian trading partners.
The infestation has now reached the wheatbelt region in Western Australia and is heading towards South Australia, a state still reeling from heavy rains and floods that have created ideal conditions for mice to thrive. The combination of warm weather and abundant food sources has only fuelled the problem. Farmers report alarming levels of damage; one farmer documented his struggle by shooting mice on his land, while another resorted to burning his crops after discovering extensive burrowing.
Historically, severe mouse plagues have prompted extreme responses, with farmers using flamethrowers in the 1980s to combat similar situations. As the plague continues its advance, concerns are growing about its potential impact on the wider Australian community, including local businesses and supermarket chains. Andrew Weidemann from Grain Producers Australia highlighted the broad ramifications, stating that the situation is detrimental not only to farmers but to everyone reliant on a stable agricultural sector.
The threat to the grain export industry, essential for Australia’s economy, is serious, prompting an emergency request to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to increase the potency of mouse baits from 25 grams to 50 grams. Experts believe that the higher concentration could eliminate over 80% of the mouse population effectively. Without effective measures, many fear the ongoing infestation will have dire consequences for the agricultural community and the national economy as a whole.