Mouse plague overtakes New South Wales

At night, residents of Australia’s largest state hear sounds of scratching from their ceilings as millions of scampering mice invade homes, businesses, and cars. The rapidly reproducing vermin pose a particular threat to farmers who are battling to protect their crops. One farmer estimated he drowned 7,500 mice in a single night last week in a trap he set with a cattle feeding bowl filled with water.

How will this affect the economy? Officials predict that if the number of mice is not quickly curbed, the loss in winter crops could amount to more than $775 million. This is a significant blow to farmers, who have already been hammered by natural disasters and pandemic disruptions. In response to what Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall called a potential “economic and social crisis,” the state government has ordered more than one thousand gallons of a banned rodent poison from India. The mouse plague came after abundant rains left farmers' silos overflowing with grain.

Dig Deeper: Read Charissa Koh’s report in the Sift on March’s floods in New South Wales.