Car repair services across the region have reported finding evidence of rodents chewing through car wiring well into the winter months with some hearing of rats eating through wires and short-circuiting vehicles and causing them to catch fire.

Bendigo Toyota owner Adam Ski said the issue was not uncommon year on year, but was becoming more evident.

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"I think it's more prevalent now because of the conditions we're seeing; rain and plenty of food for the mice whereas during a drought there's not so much," he said.

"I know it's definitely a problem up north where there's been many issues but it's happening in our region too.

"These rodents can eat through anything, there's no sort of silver bullet for the solution, it's more just about pest control."

The mouse plague levels in NSW are drastically higher than in central Victoria, but CSIRO research officer Steve Henry said mice populations are still high, despite the cooler temperatures.

"The reports out of Victoria are a bit sketchy," he said. "We'd expect to see breeding stop and then essentially mice go into survival mode and endeavour to get through winter with resources they have so in spring they can get back to breeding.

"This year we think there's plenty of food for them so if you get a high level of survival through winter, then spring breeding starts with higher population.

"We're starting to get reports that are concerning and I would think there's cause for concern."

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Mr Henry is encouraging farmers to be on top of pest control sooner rather than later, and opt for the double strength bait.

"What we're saying to farmers is they need to keep looking for mice and to start thinking about baiting," he said.

"We were speaking to farmers in central and northern Victoria recently and some in the Mallee have been baiting as well as in the Wimmera which is unusual for this time of year.

"Our advice is don't panic, but get out and have a look."

The Victorian Farmer's Federation is urging any farmers impacted to let them as they continue to monitor the situation.

Farmers can now apply for a permit to access more efficient mice bait with more details available via permits.apvma.gov.au/PER90799.PDF

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