00:00Aussie farmers fear a return of the dreaded mouse plague after rodent numbers began to
00:06dramatically increase in parts of regional Australia. Western Australia and South Australian
00:12communities reported a significantly high number of mice similar to the conditions seen in New
00:18South Wales in 2021. Data from the CSIRO suggests that there are very high mouse numbers in regions
00:27around Geraldton and in the central wheat belt around Meriden. High levels have also been detected
00:34in the Esperance region, extending to the Kiwana region. In South Australia, the Adelaide Plains
00:41and the York Peninsula, including Kangaroo Island, communities are seeing increased populations.
00:48Mouse activity has so far been lower in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. However,
00:54there is some indication that moderate population growth could occur around Goondiwindi and the
01:00northern Darling Downs. The 2020-2021 mouse plague caused about $1 billion worth of damage nationwide.
01:11In particular, mice ate seeds and crops and damaged equipment wiring and contaminated reserves of
01:17livestock feed. According to the CSIRO forecasts, a significant mouse plague happens every five
01:24years on average. However, before 2021, the most significant mouse plague in Australia was in 1993,
01:33which caused $64.5 million of damage. Normally, mice populations peak around summer with roughly 5-10
01:42rodents per hectare. Once populations start to reach over 200 rodents per hectare, the damage is projected
01:51to be significant. A mouse plague, however, is declared when there are between 800 to 1000 mice per hectare.
02:00Mice populations tend to swell after a strong agricultural season, especially when that season has been preceded by
02:08several poorer seasons. The additional feed available causes a feeding frenzy, which leads to a birth rate boom.
02:17Female mice can birth up to 10 pups every 20 days and can become pregnant again only 2-3 days
02:25after birthing.
02:27Being that these are the ultimate breeding machines, once a plague level has been established,
02:32it becomes a difficult thing to control.
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