Rats have invaded coastal villages in northern Australia in recent days, forcing residents to clean the beaches each morning of large quantities of dead rodents. These long-haired rats have gradually approached the coast after experiencing an exceptional rainy season in the Australian interior, traveling hundreds of kilometers in search of new food sources.
The small mammals have reached Karumba and Normanton in Queensland, where they have started attacking pets, climbing boats, and tearing apart car wiring. Derek Lord, a 49-year-old resident of Normanton who runs a local car rental business, told Agence France-Presse, "The rats are everywhere, and they are even coming out during the day." He added, "One car was destroyed at night after all the wiring was removed from the engine."
The rats are also invading the neighboring village of Karumba, known in Australia for its barramundi fishing. Gemma Probert, a boat owner, stated that waves are bringing heaps of dead rodents to the shore daily. She continued, "Last week, we saw many of them along the beaches, some alive and others dead, and the local council cleans the beaches every morning in an attempt to keep them away."
In the Australian interior, heavy rains that result in rapid crop growth after years of drought are often accompanied by a significant increase in harmful animals such as locusts, rats, and mice.
