The Mouse Trap - Volume 41
Table 1. Update by RLPB staff regarding mouse activity - 13 April 2007
| RLPB | Comments |
|---|---|
| Armidale | No report. |
| Balranald | No reports of mouse activity. |
| Brewarrina | No report. |
| Central Tablelands | No reports of mouse activity. |
| Cobar | No report. |
| Condobolin | No mouse activity reported to the Board. Very dry. |
| Coonabarabran | No reports of mice anywhere in the Board. |
| Coonamble | Very little mouse activity around the district. Numbers around sheds etc. have dropped off, with very little inquiry or baits issued. No reports of paddock activity either. |
| Dubbo | Mouse problems in the Dubbo RLPB have become static due to the ever increasing dry. No requests for crop protection. On-farm storage is no worse than previous years and no increase in numbers anticipated. |
| Forbes | No current reports of mice. Some canola damage at Alectown last month. |
| Hay | Not much mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage. Baiting just north of Hillston. |
| Hillston | Have not had any reports of significant mouse activity, and only one enquiry for mouse bait around farm buildings so far. This was near Mount Hope. |
| Hume | No mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage. |
| Hunter | The main cropping districts all report low to no mouse activity. |
| Gundagai | No report. |
| Molong | No current reports of mice. Some canola damage at Alectown last month. |
| Moree | The main cropping districts all report low to no mouse activity. One report of crop damage from mice about 70 km west of Moree; ZnP bait applied by air. |
| Moss Vale | No reports of any mouse activity. |
| Mudgee/Merriwa | A little paddock activity with no baiting to date. Shed and building activity has increased slightly with some Racumin® being issued. |
| Murray | No mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage although there appears to be mice in the field. There may be some concerns once canola goes to seed. |
| Narrabri | The main cropping districts all report low to no mouse activity. |
| Narrandera | No mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage. |
| Northern Slopes (Warialda) | Two inquiries last week and 125 kg of bromadiolone bait issued for 200 ha and 800 ha. One report in the Tullona area. No other reports of any mouse activity but the Ranger feels that there may be a build-up in the not too distant future. |
| Nyngan | No report. |
| Riverina | There have been very few reports of mice. |
| Tamworth | The main cropping districts all report low to no mouse activity. |
| Walgett | No report. |
| Yass | No mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage. |
| Young | No mouse activity reported to the Board at this stage. |
| Wagga Wagga | No recent mouse activity reported to the Board. No bait issued. |
General discussion
Current situation in NSW
During the past three months, very little mouse activity has been reported except for minor activity from the Alectown and Peak Hill areas. It appears that there may be increasing activity in the northern cropping area which will have to be closely monitored over the next few weeks.
There have been a few requests for baits for around farm buildings and grain storages but mostly in the southern parts of the state. Again, all the mice reported so far are Mus musculus/domesticus.
There is still sufficient bait in the Board system and at Animal Control Technologies to deal with any increase in mouse numbers but hopefully not a lot will be needed.
As stated before, there are always some mice present in cropping systems and other environments in NSW. Mouse populations are highly dynamic and fluctuate according to climatic factors, availability of food and shelter, predation and disease.
Central and southern NSW non-irrigated cropping areas still are experiencing a very dry season, which on the back of low mouse activity through winter means that it is important to monitor mouse activity well into spring. Remember, mouse populations can increase rapidly and in localised situations under ideal conditions, especially in irrigation.
Any increase in mouse numbers or indications of any damage should be reported immediately to the local Rural Lands Protection Board.
A note to all growers
It is essential that all growers remain vigilant and maintain a greater level of monitoring for mice in the following months. In many areas where there has been an increase in reports of mouse activity there has been a high acceptance of conservation farming practices. With the lack of habitat destruction, growers should be aware of the potential for greater mouse activity than normal, particularly those who may consider planting canola, lupins and cereals in 2007. Once rain falls (which it eventually will), then there is a high probability that mouse numbers may increase to damaging levels.
Monitoring
Monitoring and observation can provide sufficient warning for potential problems through this spring and summer. Much mouse damage can be prevented if farmers monitor their mouse activity and act early. Unfortunately, many farmers do not include mouse monitoring in their routine farm management. The simple act of detecting mouse activity through a paddock walk in either grassy verges to crops, check banks in irrigation or a paddock about to be sown allows farmers to get early advice from their local RLPB Ranger or District Agronomist.
Note: Simple monitoring techniques which are relatively quick and easy to use are available from your local Rural Lands Protection Board Ranger. For example Census cards can indicate activity but their results should be viewed with caution as mice might not always chew cards if there is alternative food available. Your local RLP Board can provide advice and census cards.
Plague locusts
Important note: Any plague locust activity should be reported to your Rural Lands Protection Board.
The next Mouse Trap newsletter will be issued when changes in activity are experienced.