CHB residents report mice invasion as winter looms
Some residents of Pourerere Beach in Central Hawke’s Bay are facing “plague-like proportions” of mice invading homes. A post to a Facebook community page outlined the influx of rodents that had made their way into a home and destroyed property.
The commenter, who asked not to be named, said her daughter found “heaps of them were trying to get in” when she tried to get out the back door.
She said the house was “crawling” with mice and “in every nook and cranny”, through the beds, bedding, cupboards, living room, dressing gowns, and drawers.
“They just sat and watched her, they even watched her at night when she was doing a Zoom call with all the lights off.”
Others were quick to comment on similar situations in Hastings, Takapau, and Waipukurau, and said they had also noted an increase in rodent numbers as the temperature cooled and winter approached.
Sue Gray, who lived at Pourerere Beach, said it wasn’t unusual for the mice to come in, but it was particularly bad this year.
“We have been baiting heavily for months.”
While her situation wasn’t as bad, she said they were continuously filling bait stations, and the mice had gone through 2kg of bait in a month.
A Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) spokesperson said they were unaware of any mouse infestations in Pourerere, and rodent control was the responsibility of each landowner.
“As winter approaches and the temperatures cool, this can lead to increased observation of rodents as they move around searching for newer food sources, warmth, and shelter.”
Council recommended anyone facing a rodent problem seek help from professional pest control services and keep their property clean and tidy. It was unable to say if this year was bad for rodents and said there had been “anecdotal movement of rodent populations to and from areas”.
“Places where Cyclone Gabrielle had the greatest impact are areas where we have received concerns from the public about rodent issues, particularly in semi-rural areas.”
Advice included baiting and setting traps which can be bought at local farm stores.