Australia’s mouse plague: six months ago it was war, now whole towns have accepted their presence

Farmers and residents in NSW and Queensland are still battling surging rodent numbers but they fear the ordeal will stretch on for months

Warning: graphic images may disturb some readers

When the mouse plague began in regional New South Wales and Queensland, residents spoke like generals in a war. It was all about strategy, setting the cleverest traps, fortifying houses to keep the enemy out and outsmarting the tiny creatures as they attacked wave after wave.

But, six months on, with rodent numbers surging again despite thousands of tonnes of poisons being deployed and devastating floods, conversations about mice have changed. They aren't foes to be bested any more, they're more like a giant dark cloud hovering over each town.