Western Australia faces severe mouse plague threatening agriculture and communities
Consensus Summary
Western Australia is experiencing a severe mouse plague that scientists warn could spiral out of control if immediate action isn’t taken. Mouse numbers in grain paddocks have reached alarming levels, with reports of 200–8000 mice per hectare across regions like the Mid-West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance, threatening $1 billion worth of grain production. Farmers are battling infestations that damage crops by consuming freshly sown seeds, particularly in canola and cereals, while residents report mice invading homes and damaging food containers. CSIRO researcher Steve Henry emphasizes the rapid breeding rate of mice, with females producing multiple litters every few weeks, and urges farmers to bait before sowing crops to prevent yield losses. Both sources agree the outbreak is worse than previous years, including comparisons to New South Wales’ 2021 plague, but differ on specific numbers and additional challenges like federal approval for stronger baits and worsening weather conditions. The crisis adds to existing agricultural pressures, including fuel shortages and low grain prices, creating compounding difficulties for WA farmers.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- CSIRO research officer Steve Henry is warning about unprecedented mouse plague proportions in Western Australia's grain paddocks (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- Mouse numbers in Western Australian paddocks exceed 200–8000 mice per hectare, with some regions reporting 4000 burrows per hectare (ABC: 200–300; NEWSCOMAU: 8000).
- Farmers in WA’s Mid-West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance regions are reporting severe infestations (NEWSCOMAU).
- Steve Henry visited WA in 2022 when mouse numbers were high, but this year’s outbreak is significantly worse (ABC).
- Mice are damaging crops by consuming freshly sown seeds, particularly in canola and cereal crops (NEWSCOMAU).
- Farmers are encouraged to bait before sowing crops to prevent yield losses, with some consuming 7.5 kg of bait in under three days (ABC).
- WA Farmers chief executive Trevor Whittington states the plague threatens $1 billion worth of grain production (NEWSCOMAU).
- Mice are breeding prolifically, with females producing 6–10 babies every 19–21 days and becoming pregnant again within days (ABC).
- Residents in regional communities report mice chewing through plastic containers, milk cartons, and food (ABC).
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Peter Cekanauskas, a pest controller, found a dozen mice in his pantry and estimated 75 kg of mice consumed 7.5 kg of bait in three days (ABC).
- Steve Henry mentioned mice eating through UHT milk containers and creating floods by nibbling them (ABC).
- A resident told Steve Henry mice had eaten through a plastic container of rolled oats (ABC).
- Steve Henry compared current mouse numbers to New South Wales’ 2021 plague, noting WA’s outbreak is worse (ABC).
- Steve Henry said farmers in Ravensthorpe are seeing videos of hundreds of mice running around (ABC).
- Steve Henry noted mice start breeding at six weeks old and can produce exponential growth (ABC).
- Farmers are reducing paddock movements due to fuel shortages, complicating bait distribution (ABC).
- Farmers found about 4000 burrows per hectare in crops (NEWSCOMAU).
- Trevor Whittington stated the plague is impacting wheat, barley, canola, and other cereal crops (NEWSCOMAU).
- Belinda Eastough mentioned farmers catching about 40 mice per day inside homes during the last plague (NEWSCOMAU).
- Farmers are unable to access high-strength bait ZP-50 without federal approval (NEWSCOMAU).
- Whittington said cyclonic rains and warm temperatures will worsen the outbreak (NEWSCOMAU).
- Eastough noted bait effectiveness is reduced when other food is available, as mice may avoid it (NEWSCOMAU).
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports mice numbers exceeding 200–300 per hectare as cause for concern, while NEWSCOMAU states some paddocks have up to 8000 mice per hectare.
- ABC does not mention a $1 billion threat to grain production, but NEWSCOMAU cites WA Farmers’ Trevor Whittington stating this figure.
- ABC does not mention federal approval issues for ZP-50 bait, but NEWSCOMAU highlights this as a major obstacle for farmers.
- ABC does not reference cyclonic rains worsening the outbreak, but NEWSCOMAU states Whittington warned this would make the plague worse.
- ABC does not mention farmers catching 40 mice per day during the last plague, but NEWSCOMAU cites Belinda Eastough’s claim.
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