Taft, California: The Great Mouse Invasion - West Kern Oil Museum

History of Taft and a region once dotted with 7,000 wooden derricks. Outdoor derrick, equipment...site of the largest rodent infestation in US.

A room festooned with rubber mice at the the West Kern Oil Museum pays tribute to the worst rodent infestation in U.S. history. It began 95 years ago on November 26, 1926, when an army of 50-100 million scurrying critters invaded the town of Taft, California. At its peak, the mouse-to-citizen ratio was estimated at 20,000 to 1. Winter rains and hungry birds eventually ended the plague.

The museum tells the story of when 44 million mice invaded West Kern, setting off the largest rodent infestation of the U.S. The three month mouse war ended with the help of seagulls and hawks and a change in the weather.

There is also a model of "Gail," a Chevron drilling production platform off the coast of Santa Barbara. Plus tons of fun stuff to see. If you are lucky, Olive will be there to give you a private tour. Be ready for the pop quiz about an item in the museum's theater.