As locals in a Western Australian town battle a siege of mice, farmers still do not have permission to use a high-strength bait to combat them.

A severe mouse plague is overwhelming towns north-east of Perth, with residents describing roads covered in mice and infestations in homes and businesses.

Locals and farmers say current baits are ineffective and are calling for urgent approval to use stronger rodent poisons — a bureaucratic process that is dragging on.

The local MP says in the meantime, people are leaving town.

  • Cypher@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
    13·
    17 hours ago

    There are too many feral cats but people really underestimate how bad a mouse plague is.

    Literally 10s of millions of mice. Cats won’t even make a dent.

      • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Dingos and quolls would be a better option.

        Unfortunately we don’t have many endemic predators in Australia.

        Also domestic and feral Canis Lupus Familaris in urban areas would dilute the gene pool of Canis Lupus Dingo, which isn’t great either.

        And Dasyurus Geoffroii are also vulnerable to Canis Lupus Familaris and larger feral Felis Catus.