Mouse Control Fact Sheet - Western Region

Higher-than-usual mouse populations are being reported across the Western Australian grainbelt. Regular monitoring and stringent control measures are necessary to prevent crop losses.

Key Points ––

• Mouse numbers can change rapidly based on the availability of food and shelter, so monitoring through and between seasons is important. ––
• Damage at seeding and flowering causes the greatest yield losses. ––
• Bait the night of, or within 24 hours of, seeding to maximise mice knockdown. Existing feed is covered over, buried seed is yet to be discovered and the baits are the most readily available food source. ––
• Baiting pre-sowing and post-sowing and at crop emergence achieves high levels of control, but reinvasion can occur. Mice can travel 300 metres or more in a night. ––
• Hygiene and management can help reduce mice numbers, but baiting is the only feasible in-crop control. ––
• Baiting maturing crops is effective, but kill rates may be lower. ––
• Monitor crops about seven days after baiting to check for invading mice from adjacent areas.
• Rebaiting may be necessary. ––Rebaiting is more effective than increasing baiting rates. 

Region West, North, South, National

• 472.92 kb Mouse Management Fact Sheet: Mouse Control, Western Region Higher-than-usual mouse populations are being reported across the Western Australian grainbelt. Regular monitoring and stringent control measures are necessary to prevent crop losses.