Farmers in Australia are burning their own crops.
They’re desperate to escape an epic plague infesting their hay. First came the drought. Then, the floods.
Now, the mice. wapo.st/3vhFTju
They’re desperate to escape an epic plague infesting their hay. First came the drought. Then, the floods.
Now, the mice. wapo.st/3vhFTju
The mice are invading homes.
They’re destroying crops.
They’re chewing through appliances, sofas, cars — and livelihoods. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
They’re destroying crops.
They’re chewing through appliances, sofas, cars — and livelihoods. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
Colin Tink, 63, has been farming all his life and has never experienced a mouse plague like the one ravaging Australia’s eastern grain belt.
When the rains finally came last year, Tink thought his fortunes were changing. Then the mice arrived. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
When the rains finally came last year, Tink thought his fortunes were changing. Then the mice arrived. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
Tink recently fashioned a giant mouse trap out of a shipping container he uses to roll out grain for his cattle. With the help of his 5-year-old grandson, Jock, he caught 7,000 mice. The next night it was 3,000. Now, they’re averaging about 1,000 a night. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
Australia suffers a mouse plague every decade or so. Some older farmers recall an infestation during the 1970s in which the ground felt as if it was moving, it was so thick with mice. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
Normally a mouse plague will end apocalyptically, as the population grows too big to support itself.
But, some worry that an even more explosive outbreak could happen next spring if temperatures don’t drop enough over winter. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
But, some worry that an even more explosive outbreak could happen next spring if temperatures don’t drop enough over winter. wapo.st/2SzIQ1z
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
