Wet weather breeds perfect plague

AUSTRALIAN mice experts are warning farmers to remain vigilant amid predictions that another potential plague is on the horizon.

Last year, rodents spread across regional communities and cost NSW grain growers more than $1bn, according to some estimates.

Twitter account Mousealert has identified growing populations in Central Queensland, the Southern Riverina in NSW, the Northern Valley in Victoria, the York Peninsula in South Australia and Western Australia.

CSIRO mice expert Steve Henry said farmers were aware of the dangers of a mouse plague but should be proactive to stop another disaster this year.

“The outbreak had such an impact on people that they really don’t want them to come back, so they’re being really vigilant about them,” Mr Henry told Nine.

A wet start to the year has resulted in summer crops harvested late and there are early reports that abundant feed has fuelled a bumper autumn breeding season.

“But if you get a low level of winter survival, then when they start breeding next spring they start from a much lower population base and the rate of increase is slower,” Mr Henry said.

CSIRO researchers have found in a laboratory study that mice were able to survive eating bait that should have delivered a lethal blow.

The study results arrived just as the mouse plague started to gain momentum last year and caused concern that current baiting measures are inadequate for controlling a plague.