Australia is in the middle of a serious mouse problem. It’s not the entire country—but several parts of eastern Australia have been hit. And the trouble is growing.
It’s been a rough few years to be a farmer in the Australian state of New South Wales—which the government says supplies about a quarter of the country’s agricultural output.
Back in 2018, a dry winter led to what many called the worst drought in living memory there.
Fires have been a seasonal issue around the country—with some severe recent outbreaks in New South Wales—including last year.
Heavy floods swept through the state this past March.
In between those natural disasters, strong crop yields brought hope to many famers. But they also brought mice, literally by the millions.
And that’s causing a whole new set of problems and is threatening to overwhelm some small farms and towns where mice are not only ruining crops, they’re showing up elsewhere.
The Guardian reports mice have popped up in houses away from farms, and other places from children’s classrooms to even hospital beds.
Some are warning that mice may be headed to more urban surroundings, potentially including Sydney.
The state government is seeking authority to use a powerful mouse poison—one risk is that it could also endanger eagles, owls and other wildlife.
One hope is that colder weather may help curb the population explosion of mice.
Winter in Australia begins June 1.
