Australia's mouse plague has been a living nightmare for farmers and rural communities, with an estimated 8,000 mice per hectare of land. This plague, which started in April, has been fueled by ideal conditions created by a cyclone, including increased rainfall and moisture. Scientists had predicted this plague based on modeling and field monitoring, but the reasons why such large-scale mouse plagues mainly affect Australia and China remain a mystery.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The plague is expected to end soon due to three key factors. Firstly, as crop yields decrease and native plants struggle in drier conditions, the mice's food supply diminishes. Secondly, less rainfall means fewer plants for mice to feed on, and research shows that plagues typically occur after unusually high rainfall. Lastly, the hot, dry summers in WA make it difficult for mice to burrow and breed, as the compacted soils suck away moisture.
While the end of the plague is promising for farmers and locals, there are concerns about the impact of double-strength mice bait on native wildlife. This higher-dose bait, made of zinc phosphide, has been approved for use, but scientists worry about its direct poisoning effect on native birds that feed on grain from paddocks. A wildlife carer reported finding over 100 dead or dying birds in a small farming community, including western corellas and Regent parrots. The long-term effects of this stronger bait on native birds and wildlife are currently unknown, as testing for zinc phosphide exposure is not routinely done on dead wildlife.
As winter approaches and the double-strength baits take effect, communities hope for relief from this devastating mouse plague. It's a delicate balance between controlling the plague and protecting native wildlife, and the long-term implications of this battle are yet to be fully understood. Personally, I find it fascinating how nature's cycles can have such a profound impact on human lives and the environment, and it raises important questions about our relationship with the natural world.
