Yes, that disgusting mouse plague that is currently ravaging regional NSW could be headed for Sydney. Not only that, but animal experts say that it’s likely snakes will follow.
According to Channel 10, the mice could invade Sydney by August, hitching rides on “trucks” and “food pallets”. Ten also released this scary graphic, which looks like four giant mice that are twice the size of the Opera House are heading for Sydney.
https://twitter.com/nickwray/status/1395243841960046592
In another report by nine.com.au, they warn that the Sydney mouse plague could be accompanied by snakes. Gerald Dallow from Micropest told Nine that come summer time, the mice would turn from predators to prey.
“After the mice, the snakes will follow,” Dallow said.
A blessing of good rainfall from Huey has not drowned out the #mouseplague in the central west and parts of the north west, as evidenced by this video from Nyngan, courtesy of local shearer Fergus Brown.#mouseplague pic.twitter.com/mU0B3XbOW5
— NSW Young Farmers (@NSWYF) March 24, 2021
However, a report by the Guardian says that this speculation is just that…speculation. According to a CSIRO website dedicated to mouse sightings (yes, that actually exists) the map shows very few sightings with “high” activity in agricultural areas approaching Sydney.
Rodent reporter back on the beat 🐁 🐭 and NO, they’re not going away, thanks for asking. Maree Pobje from Tottenham, central NSW shared these videos of thousands of mice tumbling down their grain and into a drum trap. Opportunity is the mother of invention, after all. Send lions pic.twitter.com/QmBnwZjyH5
— Lucy Thackray (@LucyThack) March 26, 2021
A CSIRO researcher and mouse expert Steve Henry told the Guardian that mice don’t generally migrate very far, and it’s likely that any mouse sightings in urban areas are due to populations growing
“Mice are not migratory animals,” he said.
“Mice can move 100 metres from their nest or burrow to forage, but they will return at the end of the night.
“Mice live everywhere humans do, and most of the time go undetected.”
As someone with an actual mouse problem (share house lyf) I have to say that mice are really ~everywhere~ and if you haven’t seen a mouse recently, it’s probably because you live in a nice house that they can’t easily get into.
