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- The New South Wales government is cracking down on the rural mouse plague with 5000 litres of the world’s strongest mice-killing chemical
- The chemical, known as anticoagulant bromadiolone, is able to kill rats and mice within 24 hours of consumption
- Twenty New South Wales towns will host treatment sites to distribute the poison, with enough of the chemical available to treat 95 tonnes of grain
- Farmers will be given access to the poison free of charge, though the chemical will only be handled by experts from Local Land Services to ensure no other wildlife is affected
- The poison order comes despite calls from PETA activists calling on farmers to find non-lethal methods of dealing with the rats
- The activists’ comments were met with staunch backlash from farmers and Federal politicians alike
The New South Wales government is cracking down on the rural mouse plague with 5000 litres of the world’s strongest mice-killing chemical.
Known as anticoagulant bromadiolone, the chemical is able to kill rats and mice within 24 hours of consumption. The NSW Government has sourced the initial batch of the chemical locally and said it could be distributed within days. Another major shipment is on the way from overseas.
As it stands, 20 towns in New South Wales will host grain treatment sites to distribute the chemical, with enough of the poison available to treat around 95 tonnes of grain.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the chemical will be used for baiting crop perimeters as soon as the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) gives the local government approval for distribution.
Farmers will be given access to the poison free of charge.
“This is an unprecedented plague with no blueprint on how to handle it, but we’re giving our farmers the tools they need to combat these vile vermin,” Minister Marshall said.
He added that the chemical will only be handled by Local Land Services to ensure no other wildlife is harmed as the government works to keep an abundance of mice at bay.
Mouse plague
New South Wales farmed have been dealing with a mouse plague for months after strong rains in 2020 brought about one of the best harvests in years.
A side effect of the bumper crop, however, was an abundance of mice eager to eat anything in their way. Experts are warning that the plague will soon no longer be just a country problem, with mice expected to head to Sydney and Canberra in coming weeks.
The mice have already caused major damage to maturing summer crops, with the plague expected to have a $100 million price tag by the time it is finally over. The outbreak is expected to peak towards the end of Autumn.
The NSW government’s major poison order comes despite calls from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists calling on farmers to find non-lethal methods of dealing with the rats.
The comments were met with staunch backlash from farmers and politicians alike, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison labelling PETA’s comments as “dopey” and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack calling them “idiots”.
