Millions of rats have overrun the most famous fields and invaded homes in Eastern Australia, from the southern borders of Victoria to the northern state of Queensland, causing millions of dollars in damages to crops and machinery. As winter approaches, the hungry rodents are seeking shelter inside people's homes. In the small town of Canowindra, four hours' drive west of Sydney, Sue Hodge, a cleaning worker, spends her days dealing with the rats using traps in her clients' homes, according to the newspaper "Asharq Al-Awsat."
One farmer, Michael Payton, noted that "2020 was an unforgettable year in New South Wales, as heavy rains fell after two years of drought, creating fertile ground for an abundant crop, which led to perfect conditions for the rats." Researcher Steve Henry, described by the New South Wales government as the best Australian expert on rat plague, stated, "Trying to count the number of rats currently affecting Eastern Australia would be like trying to count the stars in the sky."
On Thursday, officials in the New South Wales government announced they had obtained 5,000 liters of bromadiolone (one of the strongest chemicals for killing rats in the world), which is a potent poison that kills in a single dose. However, not everyone is happy about this; some have expressed concern that spreading the poison to save crops from rats could contaminate food crops and kill wildlife.
