ROCK ISLAND — Campers on Rock Island State Park off the northern tip of Door County have reported being overrun with mice this past summer and into the fall.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resouces says Park staff is aware of the situation and are monitoring to see if natural preditors will bring the population back down.
Numerous posts to the Friends of Rock Island State Park Facebook group have discussed the mouse problems, with varying degrees of concern.
One poster said their family hammock camped one night, but their dogs stayed up chasing the mice away.
Another person who camped over the weekend called mouse issue a serious public health concern.
The anonymous poster shared video of mice around their campsite.
“These mice ate my kiddos crocs, chewed through plastics and foil sealed medication, through tent bottoms and Rubbermaid bins – this is a serious problem. After many many many years – we won’t be back,” they wrote.
According to a DNR spokesperson, the surge in the mouse population is due to the mild winter and natural breeding cycle.
“It will take time for predators such as snakes, birds of prey and foxes to bring the mouse population back down,” they said.
Registered campers for the remainder of the year were sent an email to make them aware of the situation and prepare them with best practices such as storing all food items in rodent secured containers, avoid leaving any food out in the open, and ensure that all food scraps and waste are disposed of properly and promptly.
“Park staff are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to into next year to determine if there is a need to intervene,” the spokesperson said.
With an average winter and help from predators, populations should return to normal levels in 2025, according to the DNR.
