If you’ve been watching the news, you’ll know that since March 2021 there’s been great concern about rodent numbers in the NSW area. It’s not simply a few rodents running around but millions of them causing concern for various industries in Australia. This is the reason services like pest control Albury and other regions’ residents have been contracting have seen such a spike in call-outs for rodents.
What’s the whole story and should you be concerned?
Rodent Numbers and Activity Causing Concern
Across NSW there have been reports of masses of rodents and they’re causing havoc where they go. The rodent population numbers are extremely high and scenarios they’re affecting include:
- Healthcare, with multiple people being bitten.
- Agriculture, where farmers are losing crops to mice invasions, with the additional worry that newly planted seeds may be eaten by mice.
- Tourism is affected when local accommodation needs to close down because of infestations in rooms.
- Households where people notice rodents in water tanks and in their homes.
How Bad is the Problem Really?
The current rodent problem is no small feat. Some farmers have calculated there could be as much as 20 million mice on a single farm. The large numbers mean they can cause immeasurable damage, with one farmer reportedly losing a crop worth as much as $300,000.
Along with the damage and financial risk to farmers, there’s the possibility of the rodents spreading disease. Since the population is so big, there’s not much that can be done, leaving many landowners frustrated and powerless.
What is the Cause of the Plague?
This is not a unique occurrence, with some experts saying it’s a possibility every five or 10 years. What brought about the current surge in rodent numbers is a combination of factors, all favourable to these rodents:
- After years of drought that limited their numbers, there have been high rainfall in the area. This creates a more beneficial environment and rodents react by starting to breed more than before.
- With good crops on farms, the rodents have an abundance of food to support them.
- The environment offers enough proper shelter for them, which isn’t the case during a drought.
In addition, a mouse population can grow quickly since they can breed from as young as six weeks. They can then have as much as 10 pups every three weeks.
What Will the Future Look Like?
While many farmers and other locals request government assistance, experts say that the scenario will probably have to play out by itself. While conditions are beneficial, numbers will keep growing, but eventually the optimal conditions will change. For example, colder weather could hamper their reproduction numbers. Also, certain occurrences such as excessive rain could cause large numbers to die. This has already happened in certain areas; however, numbers still remain high.
How Can You Help?
This is a matter that should concern everyone, since rodents can cause different problems, from chewing parts of appliances in homes to contaminating drinking water. For this reason, everyone should be more cautious about daily tasks and keep an eye out for rodents on their property.
Also, it’s important that you don’t allow a few rodents to turn into a rodent infestation on your property. The sooner you take action the better. With pests it’s not about treating the symptoms you see but removing the source of the problem. This calls for a professional pest exterminator such as Economic Pest Control. Our team knows how to identify where the rodents are coming from and are fully trained on rodent control methods.
While we all hope that the challenges subside quickly for farmers suffering under these conditions, let’s all play our part in limiting rodent numbers. Call Economic Pest Control on 1300 655 774 if you need help in your area.
