Mouse plagues in Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (383258)
Rockingham, Australia
May 8, 2026 8:17am CST
Australia is having a mouse plague in several country areas, one of which is Morawa in West Australia’s wheatbelt. The mice are out of control, over-running schools, houses, shops with dead and dying mice clearly visible on the roads. Nothing seems to be working in the control of the hordes and the local council is calling for government help in controlling the plague.
Morawa is home to one of 15 churches designed and/or built by Monsignor Hawes. Hawes had a huge diocese to minister and spent many hours on horseback travelling to visit his parishioners. His companion was a fox terrier called Dominie and the collage shows cutouts of Dominie along a heritage trail in the town. I’ve written about them both before.
22 people like this
25 responses
@GardenGerty (169664)
• United States
8 May
That is so disturbing about the mouse plague. I hope they are not carrying hanta virus. At this house I do not have mice or rats, but we have lots of predatory birds--different kinds of hawks, plus it is not unusual to see snakes. They both control the mice.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 May
I guess we do but then what would eat the cats when there are too many?
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
8 May
Mice can be terrible plagues. They reproduce with no control and I once saw on TV a plague so terrible that they ate everything alive. When they had nothing to eat they ate other mice and that was the only way it was controlled.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117402)
• El Paso, Texas
8 May
I have read that those fox terriers are fantastic at hunting for mice and rats, maybe they could get a pack of them to help control the problem.
If it happened here I'd recommend getting more owls and coyotes because mice and rats are what they live on.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (4504)
•
11 May
It's too bad those cutouts don't scare the mice! I have heard about the awful problem with mice in Australia. I guess getting cats to control them isn't practicable because cats might also go after songbirds and native rodents, right? What can be done?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 May
Morawa is a country town so it's pretty hard to suddenly introduce a lot of cats to the area. The agricultural areas with the problem would be even harder. They want to use stronger baits but that hasn't been approved yet.
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 May
@AliCanary Fair enough but we might all be short of bread if the mice eat all the crops.
@AliCanary (4504)
•
12 May
@JudyEv introducing poison into the environment is NEVER a good idea.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (11885)
• Philippines
12 May
I hope they are okay. This is the reason I don't want to go to Australia if given a chance, because of the mouse plague I saw on one of the documentary I have watched when I was in elementary.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 May
Mouse plagues are few and far between. You'd be unlikely to visit when there is a plague. I've never heard of one in any of the major cities.
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 May
They are now wreaking havoc in the paddocks and destroying crops. It's becoming a very real and big problem.
@JESSY3236 (22316)
• United States
12 May
cute cutouts. I hope they can get the mice under control.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122651)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 May
Sorry to learn that your nation is having to deal with a mouse plague.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122651)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 May
@JudyEv I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223363)
• United States
9 May
I hate mice with a passion and could not handle another infestation. Mine is pretty much under control now. Mice carry a lot of diseases.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223363)
• United States
10 May
@JudyEv Yes, I had multiple mice at one time. It was awful. I'm so glad they are under control now. Knock on wood.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53024)
• Mojave, California
10 May
Sounds like you guys need to get a horde of house cats. That is why I am never mad at the 100's of alley cats every where here. We had one cat in our yard when I got home, but what was funny is time of day. Like 8 pm. You do know the dogs are still very active at this time. You lucky it was just me. They usually only come in when dogs are asleep.
They could be hungry but most times they come in our yard because they know we have water bowls out for our dogs. They come in and grab some water. Delta wakes up every morning and runs to the garage because she can smell them, someone has been in my water. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87200)
• United States
10 May
That's terrible, mice mean disease.
Got lots of cats to help?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (175014)
• United States
8 May
Mice is one thing I don't miss about our last house! Every time somebody moved out of the other half of the duplex, mice started coming into our side looking for food. I'd set traps and catch three or four every couple of days. When we'd get roaches, I'd call an exterminator to have the whole place sprayed.
Thankfully, we don't have mice or roaches here. 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98431)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 May
That is a terrible thing; the mice must be hungry.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (11732)
• United Kingdom
8 May
I would absolutely hate that ……I would be staying indoors with all windows and doors firmly closed, locked, bolted and covered ! I would be taking no chances !
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 May
They don't worry me but I certainly wouldn't like plagues of them running about.
@JudyEv (383258)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 May
I'm not sure what they'll do about it. I hope they can sort something.
