Residents of Morawa, a remote town in Western Australia, are battling a massive mouse plague that has been ongoing since February. The town, about 230 miles north of the state capital of Perth, has been under siege, with mice everywhere, including in homes, businesses, and on the roads.

Impact on Daily Life

Locals are exhausted from the constant battle against the rodents, with many reporting that they have to check for mouse carcasses in traps every morning and inspect their kettles and kitchen benches for little bodies. The mice have also been known to chew through wiring, causing damage to equipment and property.

Ashley James, a farmer who lives outside Morawa, has spent over $31,500 trying to get on top of the mice at his 14,800-acre property. He is worried that the mice will return in the warmer months and is taking steps to prevent it.

Causes and Effects

According to Steve Henry, a research officer specializing in mice at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, mouse plagues often start when food is abundant and the weather is dry. The plague can bring increased risk of diseases, including rodent-borne bacterial meningitis.

After months of setting traps and baits, clearing them and resetting them, Morawa residents say the number of mice is finally declining. However, the stench of the dead and the smell of their feces linger, and the town is still recovering from the effects of the plague.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.