The rodents are flourishing in some areas because of higher-than-normal temperatures, which favour their reproductive cycle, said Pedro Morales, a spokesman for the Senasa national agrarian health service.
The rodents have affected nearly 150,000 people and 13,000 hectares of land, according to reports.
The plague has cost the South American country nearly US$5 million and could pose a health hazard if the creatures spread disease via the food supply.
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Photo by pierre pouliquin