New weapon in mice plague crisis Warren farmer Ben Storer said they were regularly pulling up to '300 mice a night' out of their swimming pool during the plague.
News by Erin Lyons, Anton Nilsson 20th May 2021 7:04 AM | Updated: 7:57 AM
The NSW government has secured 5000 litres of one of the world’s strongest mice-killing chemicals in the latest bid to crack down on the ongoing crisis plaguing rural farmers.
The deadly chemical, anticoagulant bromadiolone, has been sourced locally and could be distributed within days.
“As soon as the Commonwealth’s APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) gives us approval to use bromadiolone for baiting crop perimeters we can start to distribute it out through our treatment stations absolutely free of charge to farmers,” agriculture minister Adam Marshall said.
NSW farmers and rural residents have been battling a mouse plague for months
There are new reports of mice sightings in Sydney's west, with houses damaged
The government has secured a bulk supply of a mice poison to give to farmers
Animal rights group PETA and farmers said government should've acted sooner
Scientists say the plague will peak over winter and that they can last two years
"How much more can we take, how much more," says NSW farmer Frank Flissinger.
He has faced fires and drought - now he's facing a mice plague. His precious feed was contaminated by them and it had to be burned.
"This is the first time in about four years I've had feed," he says. "I'd say a good part of 90 percent of it is going to have to be destroyed."
But plans to outsmart the pest and the plague have been met with resistance by animal rights activists.
"They can feel pain. These animals are just looking for feed," says PETA activist Aleesha Naxakis.
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Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack snapped back, telling
News.com.au the “real rats” in this plague are the “people who come out with bloody stupid ideas like this”. “You have these people who have never left the city and wouldn’t know if their backside was on fire, then all of a sudden they’re telling farmers what to do? “The only good mouse is a dead mouse.”
Sam Mooy/Getty Images NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said, according to
News.com.au, the suggestion from PETA was “ridiculous” and an “insult”. “I would laugh if this wasn’t so serious ... I will not entertain PETA’s ridiculous concerns.”
"Millions of mice are going to be gasping for air, choking, bleeding internally," Ms Naxakis said.
"Sometimes it takes days (for mice) to die a slow and painful death."
Swarms of mice across western NSW and parts of Queensland have caused devastating damage to farms and homes, costing close to $100 million. The infestation is also taking a mental and emotional toll on farmers and residents fighting the plague.
PETA's stance has irritated farmers whose crops, grain and hay stores have been eaten and destroyed by mice.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack called PETA members "idiots who have never been outside the city".
Aussie mouse plague: PETA cops big backlash for telling farmers not to kill pests
18 May, 2021 09:20 PM
7 minutes to read
The mouse plague has spread across rural communities in eastern Australia. Video / news.com.au
news.com.au
By: Anton Nilsson
A global animal rights organisation has pleaded with farmers "not to kill" the mice plaguing regional Australia, arguing the rodents should not be denied their "right" to food because of the "dangerous notion of human supremacy".
The comments from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) during the height of a devastating mouse plague has infuriated farmers and prompted Deputy PM Michael McCormack to slam the activists as "idiots who have never been outside the city".
Animal activists PETA slammed for telling farmers not to kill mice during plague
PETA said mice are 'looking for food to survive' and 'shouldn't be robbed of right'
Some farmers have said they're unable to sleep and have lost close to $300,000
Today's Karl Stefanovic said PETA doesn't know about problems farmers face
He said PETA 'idiots' sit in offices and 'can't be bothered going to the farms'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and radio host Ben Fordham have slammed an animal rights group for urging farmers to avoid killing mice during the country's worst-ever rodent plague.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Tuesday pleaded with farmers not to kill 'curious animals' that are 'just looking for food to survive'.
'They shouldn't be robbed of that right because of the dangerous notion of human supremacy,' PETA spokeswoman Aleesha Naxakis said.
PETA spokeswoman Aleesha Naxakis (pictured) on Tuesday pleaded with farmers to avoid killing the mice as they are 'just looking for food to survive'