Ask Onix
Mouse plague devastates Australian farms amid economic strain
Farmers across Western and South Australia are grappling with an unprecedented mouse plague, compounding financial pressures from soaring fuel and fertiliser costs linked to geopolitical conflicts.
Crop destruction and financial toll
Rodents are ravaging grain fields, forcing farmers to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on replanting or baiting. Geoff Cosgrove, a 43-year-old farmer in Mingenew, Western Australia, describes the infestation as "way worse" than the 2021 plague that overwhelmed New South Wales and Queensland.
"It's a big cost and it's not just the price of the bait," Cosgrove said. "They do play with your mind-running around at night, in the ceiling, the air conditioning units. You can hear them and you can smell them-it's like a decaying body."
Exponential rodent growth fueled by ideal conditions
Agronomist Belinda Eastough, farming 5,500 hectares in Nolba, estimates 8,000 to 10,000 mice per hectare in her canola fields. Last year's record harvest left spilled grain in paddocks, while summer rains provided additional vegetation, creating a "mouse heaven."
"Last time, they were in my handbag," Eastough recalled. "This year, they're staying where the food is-out in the paddocks."
Breeding surge and psychological strain
CSIRO research officer Steve Henry warns the plague is spreading rapidly, with mice breeding from six weeks old and producing litters of six to 10 every three weeks. Farmers report 3,000 to 4,000 burrows per hectare in Western Australia's cropping zones.
"The kicker is within two or three days of giving birth, they fall pregnant again. While rearing the first litter, they're gestating the second," Henry said.
The infestation extends beyond fields, with rodents infiltrating homes, cupboards, and even beds, exacerbating mental health struggles for farmers already strained by economic pressures.
Emergency measures and cautious optimism
After months of lobbying, farmers recently gained access to a stronger bait, offering hope for control. Damian Ryan, a retired farmer in Morawa, reported catching 20 to 30 mice daily in his home and 150 in his shed.
"I've never seen it this bad, ever," Ryan said. "You drive around at night and you just see mice running everywhere."
Cooler temperatures and forecasted rain have led to a slight decline in numbers, with farmers like Cosgrove hoping winter will bring relief: "Eventually they do stop 'cause it gets too cold and wet."
