The spread of the Calici virus (RHDV) has been cited as a contributor to the recovery of the native Plains Mouse (pseudomys australis).
Plains Mouse. (Photo: Tony Pitt)
Katherine Tuft, Manager of Arid Recovery (a conservation reserve in outback SA), has reported high numbers of the native mice.
“We think that a combination of good rainy years and the knockdown of the rabbits, and the concurrent drop in cat and fox numbers, have allowed these animals to spread out and turn up on our doorstep.
“Because there are fewer predators at Arid Recovery they are able to stay in high numbers.”
For more information, see the article in The Lead – ‘Threatened outback mouse roars again’.