The worsening NSW mouse plague has prompted the ACT government to make preparations in case the infestation makes it way into the territory's borders.
Parts of rural NSW have been overcome by the rodents, which have wreaked havoc for farmers. There are fears the plague will make its way east into the ACT and the surrounding region.
It has spurred the territory government into action, after the NSW government announced a $50 million package to subside baits and traps.
ACT Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate was monitoring the situation and she had directed the agency to develop a contingency plan.
"We have all seen the utter devastation left by the mice plague across regional NSW and have felt for our neighbours as they battle this unprecedented situation," she said.
"If the current mouse plague in NSW extends into the ACT, I have asked the biosecurity team in the EPSDD to investigate and put in place contingency plans to reduce impacts including options to support the community."
It is unclear what these contingency plans would be as it is dependent on the advice received by the biosecurity team.
But Ms Vassarotti said a foremost concern was to ensure any methods to deal with mice would not have any negative impacts on the environment.
She said the territory government would not fight the plague with the poison bromadialone, which is part of the NSW government's $50 million package.
"It is important that we consider all impacts and ensure that any action we take doesn't have any long-term negative environmental impact, as we know that rodenticides containing bromadialone can have long-lasting negative impacts on our native wildlife," Ms Vassarotti said.
While mouse traps and bait across several Canberra hardware stores have sold out, Ms Vassarotti said the territory's environment directorate had not received any reports about elevated mice levels.
"The directorate, including the biosecurity team, have not received any reports or notifications about above-normal mice numbers in the ACT or immediately surrounding areas," she said.
"Mouse plagues are influenced by the availability of food and plagues can impact crop production.
"Rural grain growing areas in other jurisdictions are experiencing plague numbers, however rural towns close to the ACT, like Yass, are not experiencing the same numbers."
