Apocolypse Mouse: plague spreads to Sydney and Canberra

• A mouse plague that has devastated farmers’ crops across parts of central NSW could soon spread to Sydney and Canberra
• Bumper rain helped farming communities produce one of their best seasons in years, but mice have ruined many of the crops
• The damage from the rodents is expected to top $100 million, while mice experts warn the animals are likely to head to the coast during winter
• Already parts of Sydney and Canberra have reported high levels of mice, with mouse traps beginning to sell out
• Animal activist group PETA has sparked outrage among some farmers and politicians for suggesting the mice shouldn’t be harmed

A mouse plague that has devastated farmers’ crops across parts of central NSW could soon spread to Sydney and Canberra.

Bumper rain helped farming communities across the state produce one of their best seasons in years, however the rain has also led to a mice plague.

Farmers have reported losing tens of thousands of dollars worth of crops and equipment after mice ate them.

The mouse plague just gets worse- mice pour out of a temporary silo and into an opportunistic trap near Dubbo. Sarah Pye was horrified by the scene – she says she’s “devastated, disgusted and done.” She says “after such a boomer of a season after drought, to lose it all is awful” pic.twitter.com/6bfzprY67j

— Lucy Thackray (@LucyThack) May 18, 2021

The damage from the rodents is expected to top $100 million, while mice experts warn the animals are likely to head to the coast during winter.

A mice technician told News Corp the rodents would have unwillingly hitched rides on food pallets, trucks and cars.

Additionally, a report by the CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation stated mice levels across NSW were at moderate to high levels.

It also predicted the mouse plague would reach its peak towards the end of the autumn months.

Already parts of Sydney and Canberra have reported high levels of mice, with mouse traps selling out in some regional towns.

Animal activist group PETA is urging people who are overrun with mice to look at non-lethal ways of removing them.

However PETA’s comments have sparked outrage from some politicians and farmers who argue there are no non-lethal options for dealing with the plague.

Perhaps someone from PETA would like to come drive our tractor 😭🤢🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭 pic.twitter.com/lGdMXjxWTE

— John Stevenson (@cropmad) May 18, 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled PETA’s comments as “dopey” while the Deputy PM Michael McCormack was more blunt and labelled the activists “idiots”.