Pest control mice in Canberra
May 2021
Pest controller David Wolstencroft baits a Scullin home infested with mice.
During the pandemic, people scrambled for toilet paper. As mouse numbers surged, it was bait stations and traps disappearing from shelves.
Across Canberra and surrounding parts of southern New South Wales, demand for rodent control products rose sharply as the mouse plague moving east from regional NSW began affecting homes closer to the ACT. During this period, Precision Pest Control worked with local households to help bring infestations under control, while hardware stores and supermarkets struggled to keep bait, traps and other rodent-control products on shelves.
Retail staff reported that supplies were being replenished, only to be cleared again within days. In some stores, entire sections dedicated to rodent control were left empty as demand continued to outpace supply.
The problem, which first intensified in far western NSW and the Riverina, was soon being felt in towns west of Canberra, including Tumut, Adelong and Tarcutta. Reports also began emerging from Murrumbateman and Canberra’s outer suburbs, where residents noticed a clear increase in rodent activity
While colder weather might seem likely to reduce numbers, winter conditions can actually push mice indoors. As temperatures drop, homes, sheds, roof spaces, wall cavities and underfloor areas become more attractive because they offer warmth, food and shelter.
The surge was largely driven by field mice, which multiplied rapidly after drought-breaking rains followed the devastating 2019–20 bushfire season. Improved growing conditions, along with access to stored grain and other food sources, created ideal breeding conditions and allowed populations to explode.
Residents were encouraged to watch for early warning signs before mice established themselves inside the home. Damage in vegetable patches, activity in garden sheds, chewed packaging and the appearance of small droppings were all signs rodents could already be nearby or inside the property.
Bunnings shelves completely stripped of all rodent baits and traps.
Because mice need very little food to survive, even crumbs or poorly sealed pantry items can sustain them. Once inside, they tend to settle in protected spaces close to warmth and food sources.
The scale of the outbreak prompted significant government support in New South Wales, including financial assistance for farmers, small businesses and households. Rebates for bait purchases were introduced, and specialist workshops were held to help affected communities respond more effectively.
For households with pets or young children, enclosed bait stations were considered one of the safer control options. But with stock shortages continuing, many residents had to act quickly or look for alternatives wherever they could find them.
The broader message was clear: this was no longer just a regional issue. As the mouse plague pushed closer to Canberra, it became a real problem for households across the ACT and surrounding districts.
As the weather gets colder, is rodents will move indoors, into roof spaces, wall and floor cavities – anywhere where there’s warmth and food sources.
Look for the early signs of rodents
– Check your veggie patch for signs that there are things nibbling away
– Check your garden shed for activity
Think you may have a mouse problem? Want to know the signs of rodents – the signs of rats and mice – to look out for?