Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
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Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#2When I read that article, all I could think of was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Pyu-Cj0gg
(In case you're sensitive, it's farmers using pitchforks to turn soil in a fallow or recently harvested field that is ridden with rats, which flushes the rats. There are a handful of ratting dogs milling about which immediately chase and kill the rats. The way they do it is the dog grabs the rat in it's mouth and shakes its head wildly. This breaks the rat's back and stuns it. It's actually pretty impressive, if violent and macabre.)
I think there are dogs that would find it fun as heck to live in that area of Australia for a few weeks.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#3Honestly thought it was an exaggerated title but reading the article says otherwise. That’s a lot of mouse. Is it because the habitat is missing the right predators due to climate change?
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#4When I read that article, all I could think of was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Pyu-Cj0gg (In case you're sensitive, it's farmers using pitchforks to turn soil in a fallow or recently harvested field that is ridden with rats, which flushes the rats. There are a handful of ratting dogs milling about which immediately chase and kill the rats. The way they do it is the dog grabs the rat in it's mouth an…
I wonder how many cats every house needs to rid it of mice. Given the volume, I doubt there are enough cats in Australia to even make a dent.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#5This seems to be a recurring occurrence in Australia. China is the other country to experience this with some regularity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse_plagues_in_Australia
Interestingly, Australia was home to another, similar explosion of small mammals with high reproductive rates and no or few natural enemies: The rabbit plagues. This seems however largely to have been contained with the release of several viruses that targets rabbits.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#6If only they could militarize the emu's against the mice armies.
I'd buy tickets to Emu war part deux.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#7When I read that article, all I could think of was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Pyu-Cj0gg (In case you're sensitive, it's farmers using pitchforks to turn soil in a fallow or recently harvested field that is ridden with rats, which flushes the rats. There are a handful of ratting dogs milling about which immediately chase and kill the rats. The way they do it is the dog grabs the rat in it's mouth an…
I am weird enough to see an optimalization problem in the video. How many dogs are too many? Obviously, two are better than one, but fifty isn't better than twenty.
Just saying.
Also, the comment saying "that is why dogs like squeaking toys" is spot on, though the idea is probably uncomfortable to regular dog owners.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#8As an African, my first thought on seeing the pictures was that it’s a shame that the dead mice (that were caught in traps or by dogs) aren’t being used to make pet food or to feed zoo animals after cooking them thoroughly in large pots.
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#9As an African, my first thought on seeing the pictures was that it’s a shame that the dead mice (that were caught in traps or by dogs) aren’t being used to make pet food or to feed zoo animals after cooking them thoroughly in large pots.
Is there an analogous practice in your region? (Is it also subject to mouse plagues, or is there another way enough rodents are gathered?)
Re: Mouse plague grows to biblical proportions across eastern Australia
#10When I read that article, all I could think of was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Pyu-Cj0gg (In case you're sensitive, it's farmers using pitchforks to turn soil in a fallow or recently harvested field that is ridden with rats, which flushes the rats. There are a handful of ratting dogs milling about which immediately chase and kill the rats. The way they do it is the dog grabs the rat in it's mouth an…
If you look closely one of the dogs swallows a rat whole. Yum.