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Why it's about to get so much harder to find an aged care bed in WA

It's going to get much harder to find an available aged care bed in WA, a new report finds, with a "substantial and time-critical shortfall" predicted.
A close-up photo of an elderly woman knitting.

Published:

Mon 25 May 2026 at 7:31pm

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Aged Careby Keane Bourke and Nicolas Perpitch

The scale of the mouse plague is hard to fathom. Here's a visualisation

A mouse plague is invading farms and homes in southern and Western Australia. But what does that really look like?
A graphic showing a top-down view of a bedroom where several mice have invaded.

Published:

Sun 24 May 2026 at 4:49am

Source: Story LabTopic: Pestsby Ashley Kyd, Jarrod Fankhauser, Andie Noonan, Jessica Riga, Matt Liddy, Joanna Prendergast and Chris Lewis

Mouse plague in WA

Farmers have got approvals to use a high strength poison to kill mice that are in plague proportions in WA.
Pile of dead mice.
Duration: 13 minutes 4 seconds

Published:

Fri 22 May 2026 at 3:21pm

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Agricultural Pest Controlby Jo Prendergast and David Claughton

Toxic mouse bait forces school to shut for 'deep clean' in plague-hit town

Students of the Western Australian School of Agriculture in the WA town of Morawa are sent home and the school is closed after toxic mouse bait intended for paddocks is spread on the campus. 
A sign for The Western Australian College of Agriculture Morawa campus in wood and gold metal

Published:

Thu 21 May 2026 at 7:28pm

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Pests, Diseases and Control Methodsby Joanna Prendergast and Chris Lewis

Last private midwife north of Perth to close as costs of business rise

Soon-to-be parents in regional WA will have less choice over where and how they give birth as care options diminish, midwives say.
Cath, middle-aged with black hair looks out solemnly from a door frame, towards soft daylight, wearing a linen button-up.

Published:

Thu 21 May 2026 at 9:35am

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Pregnancy and Childbirthby Brianna Melville

As coral reefs are wiped out from bleaching, this one brings hope

In the midst of a mass coral bleaching event along the West Australian coast, a group of scientists have discovered a section of reef that has been able to withstand the heat.
A coral reef with a fish swimming in the centre.

Published:

Thu 21 May 2026 at 8:02am

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Marine Biologyby Piper Duffy

A mouse plague has broken out. Here's what you need to know

Mice in their millions are eating grain crops, destroying food, and invading houses. Here's how it all started.
A close up of dead mice laying on the brown dirt

Published:

Wed 20 May 2026 at 7:00am

Source: ABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic: Agricultural Pest Controlby Joanna Prendergast

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Watch

Mice fill seeding bins as WA farmers try to plant the 2026 crop.

Mice fill seeding bins as WA farmers try to plant the 2026 crop.
Three mice in farm shed.
Duration: 24 seconds

Source: ABC News

Geraldton Dust: Iron ore exports creating a dusty problem

The export of iron ore out of Geraldton has created jobs and growth but also lots of dust which has residents worried.
Duration: 15 minutes 27 seconds

Source: ABC News

Grain growers in parts of WA overrun by mice

Grain growers in parts of Western Australia are overrun by mice.
Mice at night swarming a paddock as een through a vehicle window
Duration: 19 seconds

Source: ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Why is there a massive camera in this tiny outback town?

Charles "Chic" Wadley runs what's believed to be the largest private film camera collection in the southern hemisphere, from an old petrol station in the WA town Meckering, at 4,000 strong.

Source: ABC News

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