Experts urge action as households come into crossfire of surging mice numbers across WA

MEDIA RELEASE

Western Australia,  20 April 2026 - Mice populations across Western Australia are reportedly at 'plague levels', as farmers battle against the devastating environmental and financial impacts. Experts are urging households to up their defences against the risks from thousands of mice now seeking food away from the fields. 

The March Mouse Forecast from CSIRO showed that numbers were significantly rising across the state, with mice detected in over 67 per cent of sites in Geraldton, the Central Wheatbelt, and down to Esperance. The risk from contamination and diseases, including leptospirosis, can be significant, with homes in the surrounding areas now facing a heightened risk as surging populations are forced to find food further out. 

In response, an expert in pest control is urging home owners across the region to instigate their own proactive lines of defence against the hordes of mice - but warns people should not be turning immediately to toxins. 

Craig Bond, co-founder of the toxin-free pest control company Goodnature, says mice travel rapidly between food sources, so people shouldn't wait until they spot one on their property before taking action. 

"A mouse's home range is defined by access to food. This area can be anything as small as a square metre, but as soon as food sources dry up, they will very quickly move on to seek more," he says. "It's at this point, where they're becoming desperate that they'll be more active, and homes can offer an enticing rich environment. 

"The best course of action to stop mice gaining a foothold is to reduce their ability to enter your house - having an outdoor trapping system to keep numbers down before they even reach an indoor trap is a strong place to start." 

Goodnature advocates for toxin-free traps as a safer, more humane alternative; founded in New Zealand in 2005, their products have now killed more than 25 million pests across 60 countries. Their award-winning Smart Mouse Trap uses infrared sensors to swiftly kill up to 100 mice per charge, with their self-resetting outdoor a24 traps deployed in several major conservation sites globally - including New Zealand's Fiordland National Park. 

Findings from a report released in late 2025 by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has resulted in reform for toxins used in pest control, with the sale of some anticoagulant rodenticides set to be heavily restricted from next year. The risks from rodenticides can mean they're unsuitable for many home environments, especially those with children or pets. 

Bond says alternative solutions to anticoagulant rodenticides in the home are viable, and do not carry the same potential long-term environmental impact via the secondary killing of native species who eat the poisoned rodents. He says many can protect themselves with some key proactive steps, including:  

 ●        Creating and monitoring a strong outdoor and indoor perimeter trapping environment, and where possible store seeds, stored grain or pet food in rodent proof containers

●        Storing food in airtight containers and keeping your indoor compost bin sealed

●        Checking and sealing potential entry routes into your house including gaps in weatherboards or under the house

●        Removing potential nesting material from around the property, including woodpiles, dense ground cover, and cluttered outbuildings close to the house

●        Checking and replacing traps regularly, and ensuring lures are fresh and effective, especially during peak activity periods.

"People often think they need to see a mouse before they act, but by then you're already behind; taking proactive steps to protect your family, pets, and the wider environment is the best step to take."

Goodnature's A24 and Mouse Trap products are available online and through selected retailers across Australia. More information is available at goodnature.com.au 

About Goodnature

Established in 2005, Goodnature is the first B Corp-certified pest control company in the world. Initially beginning its mission in the wild to eradicate pests, it's now scaling its goal of rewilding the world with the introduction of the Goodnature Mouse Trap, the first product they've designed for inside the home in 20 years. So far, their traps have killed 22 million pests globally and wiped out rat populations in four of New Zealand's most fragile ecosystems. Goodnature is also trusted by some of the world's toughest conservation groups, including the Nature Conservancy, Predator Free 2050 and the United Nations Development Program.

 ENDS 

For more information, contact:

Jenny Westdorp | 0413 334 425 | jenny@thornpr.co

Hannah Palframan | +642041009362 | hannah@thornpr.co.nz  

Jacinda Thorn | +61430620616 | jacinda@thornpr.co.nz