Rodents Run Rampant – What You Need to Know About Melbourne’s Current Mouse Plague

Melbourne, we have a problem.

The city is currently in the grip of a mouse plague.

This issue has left Melbourne residents and businesses struggling to cope with this widespread rodent infestation, the likes of which have not been seen since Western Australia’s similar mouse scare in 2010. Recent reports regarding Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), an extremely dangerous disease commonly carried by rodents, have led to escalated health & safety concerns statewide resulting from an apparent Victorian mice plague.

A perfect storm involving weather, food and timing has provided the ideal conditions for an explosion of the population of mice in Melbourne.

Earlier in the year, the CSIRO issued an advanced warning to farmers, since the mice could potentially have calamitous effects on their newly sown seed. This pre-emptive action allowed farmers to take preventative measures and avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by a similar plague in 1993.

Let’s have a look at the reasons behind the current mice plague in Melbourne and discuss ways to prevent or minimise its impact on homes and businesses.

Ideal Conditions

The opening rains of the season saw the mouse population burst into action. A bumper harvest this spring exacerbated the issue, escalating the problem to another level, for obvious reasons.

Initially reaching plague numbers in country Victoria, they have since fast-tracked their way down south to create a Melbourne mouse plague. These mice can now be found in booming numbers throughout the CBD. Worse still, unusually low temperatures across the state have resulted in mice seeking shelter indoors, with inner-suburban householders and businesses regularly being overrun with these pesky pests.

Reproduction

In spring, mouse reproduction has been seen to escalate – the result of which is a flourishing birthrate.

Since a single female mouse can produce around 300 babies in her lifetime (around 18 months), it is understandable how these ripe conditions are heightening mouse numbers.

Signs of Life – Staying Safe

Vigilance is necessary to ensure your property and family remain unaffected by Victoria’s mouse plague. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of mice, such as:

• Droppings
• Damage to food packaging
• Signs of burrowing
• Sounds of gnawing
• Odours

Preventative Measures

The best measure you can take to prevent mice from entering your home or business is deterrence. Prevention is the best method, as treating an infestation once it moves in can be far more difficult.

• Ensure all cracks and openings around your home or business are filled in
• Store food in airtight containers
• Keep garbage and rubbish well away from the home and dispose of it frequently
• Seal bottoms of external doors
• Place vents over flues and chimneys

If you suspect you may have a rodent infestation contributing to Melbourne’s mice plague, call Dawson’s Australia immediately on (03) 9222 2266 for tailored rodent control treatment. Rodents can not only cause devastating structural damage to your home by gnawing on practically everything from wiring to woodwork, but they also carry a wide variety of diseases that can easily be spread to occupants in your home or business.

Stay safe.