Trouble and squeak – Farmers vs mice
Warning: Some photos may be disturbing.
Since December, Coonamble farmer Allan Inglis has been mired in a battle against a plague of mice that threatens to engulf much of NSW’s Central West grain belt. Elevated mouse populations have been recorded from central Queensland down to northern and central NSW and into western Victoria. The boom has been fuelled by drought-breaking rains, bumper crop yields and an unseasonably mild winter. The mice are wreaking financial havoc, too. Inglis says that by winter, he will be up to $500,000 out of pocket.
Photography and words by Dean Sewell.
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Since December last year, Allan has been waging war against a current mice plague and has caught and disposed of an estimated 35,000 mice in ten weeks. Credit:Dean Sewell
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Thousands of mice during the day as they become trapped inside grain storage vessels where they die from poisoning or drown.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Allan with his bales of hay that have been destroyed through mice infestation.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Mice scramble around the grain silos as the headlights are turned on. The mice feed at night and eat nearly everything they can get to, including electrical wiring and door frames.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Dead mice under moonlight on the outskirts of Coonamble. In the far distance, a road train approaches. Credit:Dean Sewell
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Coonamble broad acre farmer Allan Inglis. Since December last year, Allan has been waging war against a current mice plague and has caught and disposed of an estimated 35,000 mice in ten weeks. Credit:Dean Sewell
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They eat through anything including grain, fallen galahs , hay and the electrics of machinery.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Masses of dead mice are found around the silos and throughout the grain and hay storage sheds due to poisoning.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Mice scrambling on the sides of the silo as the headlights are switched on.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Mice eat through anything including grain, fallen galahs , hay end the electrics of machinery. Masses of dead mice are found around the silos and throughout the grain and hay storage sheds due to poisoning. Credit:Dean Sewell
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Allan collects some two dozen industrial grade perforated steel traps, submerging them in water to drown the rodents and then disperses them into his fields.Credit:Dean Sewell
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He collects some two dozen industrial grade perforated steel traps, submerging them in water to drown the rodents and then disperses them into his fields.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Coonamble Mayor Ahmad (Al ) Karanouh standing out front of his cafe on Castlreagh street in Coonamble. He is desperate for the state and federal governments to financially assist the farmers fighting this mouse plague.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Coonamble Broad-acre farmer Jason Hogland on his property several kilometres from town. To show Dean the extent of the problem, Jason quickly turned on his fog lights which caused the mice to move like a school of fish on land.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Since December last year, Allan has been waging war against a current mice plague and has caught and disposed of an estimated 35,000 mice in ten weeks. Allan collects some two dozen industrial grade perforated steel traps, submerging them in water to drown the rodents and then disperses them into his fields.Credit:Dean Sewell
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One of the industrial strength steel mouse traps which can catch up 100 mice each day.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Wheat stored under tarpaulins at Coonamble GrainCorp facilities. Credit:Dean Sewell
