‘Mice rain’ wreak havoc in Australia: Know all about the plague

Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) is witnessing its vast tracts of land being threatened by a mouse plague, which the government has said is “absolutely unprecedented.” The NSW government has also extended a support package of $50 million for the farmers of the state affected by the plague. 

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The NSW government has also authorised the use of an outlawed poison bromadiolone to control the plague. 

The mice plague, which is being called the worst plagues in decades, started in Australia’s eastern state around mid-March. Due to “rampaging mice,” Australian farmers lost entire grain, Live Science reported. Meanwhile, “hotels have had to close because they can’t keep the critters out of the rooms,” it said. 

Residents in some places of affected areas are also witnessing “mice rain,” where mice are reportedly falling out from rooftops. 

Steve Henry, a researcher at Australia’s national science agency, has attributed the mice plague to an unusual abundant grain harvest that caused a surplus of rats earlier in the season, Live Science reported. 

Rodents or mice, in general, can destroy food grains, causing widespread damage and they also carry fleas or ticks, which can be harmful to pets as well as humans.

There are 2,200 species of rodents, according to Victoria’s health department, and Australia is home to over 60 native rodent species and three introduced pest species.

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To control the plague, research says that an increased amount of zinc phosphide in mouse baits will farmers fight the higher than average rodents in eastern Australia. Thus, authorities have allowed doubling the toxicity levels in mouse baits.