A plague of mice that's destroyed feed in rural New South Wales could now make its way to Sydney by August.
The mice have been tormenting farmers across Australia for months and are even catching trips into the city on trucks.
Skin-crawling footage shows thousands of mice scurrying across paddocks, revealing the nightmares farmers are facing.
At night, torches reveal the scale of the problem, and by day, it's not much better. Every crack and crevice they're there, quietly stirring out of sight.
They've crawled into homes, into local supermarkets, and are preying on the profits of the community and farmers.
"How much more can we take, how much more," says NSW farmer Frank Flissinger.
He has faced fires and drought - now he's facing a mice plague. His precious feed was contaminated by them and it had to be burned.
"This is the first time in about four years I've had feed," he says. "I'd say a good part of 90 percent of it is going to have to be destroyed."
But plans to outsmart the pest and the plague have been met with resistance by animal rights activists.
"They can feel pain. These animals are just looking for feed," says PETA activist Aleesha Naxakis.
"These poisons are so horrible. They cause animals to gasp and choke for air and cause a slow and awful death."
But Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack took a different view.
"The only dead mouse is a good mouse and PETA should recognise that," he says.
The plague is becoming unstoppable. A mouse can give birth to a litter of up to 10 offspring every 20 days.
"To capture mice and relocate mice is absurd," says NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro. "We are going to roll out one of the most toxic, poisonous poisons."
