Australian farmers across Western Australia and South Australia are battling a severe mouse plague, with rodent populations exploding and causing widespread damage to crops and farm infrastructure. The crisis, which intensified in March, adds significant financial and psychological strain to an agricultural sector already contending with volatile global supply chains and rising operational costs.
A Growing Crisis on the Farm
Farmers like Geoff Cosgrove, who manages a 14,000-hectare farm in Mingenew, Western Australia, are reporting unprecedented numbers of mice. Cosgrove describes the infestation as far worse than the plague experienced in 2021, noting the pervasive and distressing presence of rodents within homes and farm machinery. The smell is likened to “a decaying body,” highlighting the overwhelming nature of the infestation.
The economic impact is substantial, with farmers forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on replanting crops and purchasing mouse bait. This cost is compounded by the time-consuming effort required to deploy baits and the potential for further crop loss.
Factors Fueling the Plague
Agronomists and farmers point to a confluence of factors that have created ideal conditions for the current mouse population boom. Belinda Eastough, a farmer and agronomist in Nolba, Western Australia, explains that a record-breaking harvest last year left significant amounts of grain spilt in paddocks, providing an abundant food source. Subsequent summer rains spurred the growth of fresh vegetation, offering a “steak and salad” buffet for the rodents.
“Last year, we had a record-breaking harvest so that gives the mice a lot of food. Then we got some summer rain… So instead of just steak, they got steak and salad. Basically, the mice were in absolute mouse heaven,” Eastough stated.
These conditions have led to estimated mouse densities of 8,000 to 10,000 per hectare in some canola paddocks, a number far exceeding typical plague thresholds. Normally, mouse populations might crash after exhausting their food supply, but this year, the abundance has sustained their numbers.
Impact on Cropping and Farmer Well-being
The timing of the plague is particularly damaging, as it coincides with the crucial autumn planting season for grain growers. Mice are consuming freshly sown seeds directly from the furrows, meaning crops are being devoured before they even have a chance to grow.
“If the baiter hasn’t followed quickly enough behind the seeder, the mice are coming along at night and eating the seed out of the furrows,” Eastough explained. “If you finish seeding at 8pm at night and you come in the next day, you’ll have rows of crop missing.”
Beyond the direct crop damage, the psychological toll on farmers is immense. Steve Henry, a research officer at CSIRO specializing in mice, notes that unlike droughts, which can be escaped by going indoors, mice infiltrate every space. “You go to sleep at night, and the mice are running across your bed,” he said, illustrating the constant stress and lack of respite.
Regulatory Approval and Hope for Winter
A significant development in combating the plague has been the recent approval by the national regulator for a stronger mouse bait. This higher-strength poison is now available to farmers, offering a more potent tool against the overwhelming populations.
Retired farmer Damian Ryan, who has farmed for 50 years, described the current situation as the worst he has ever witnessed. He reported catching dozens of mice daily within his home and shed. However, with cooler temperatures and rain forecast as winter approaches, there is hope for a natural decline in mouse numbers.
“Eventually they do stop ’cause it gets too cold and wet,” Cosgrove noted, expressing a cautious optimism that the changing season will bring some relief to the beleaguered farming communities.
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