Formal Letter of Concern (Mice)

As I'm sure many of you are aware, Wilson Hall has what has been
labeled a "mice problem." After much time and consideration I fear this
is a grave understatement. I arrived at the Tech campus and moved into
Wilson Hall on Friday, June 27th. Since the time of my arrival I have
killed and removed thirty mice in my apartment alone. A minor problem
would be one or two mice. It is my opinion that thirty mice do not
constitute a problem, this amount defines an infestation. One cannot
deny that the removal of thirty mice from any structure of clean human
occupation in eleven days is an unsanitary and unhealthy infestation.
As the new director of Wilson Hall, the building is in my charge.
And as I begin to settle into this new role I have accepted I have
mixed feelings. I am happy to be in the employment of ATU, as well as
in the service of the Department of Residence Life, however, I can
neither morally nor ethically continue to recommend the use of this
building as a healthy place of residence for camps, conferences, and
students. To do so would be a gross disservice. This infestation is a
threat to the health and safety of anyone occupying or working in
Wilson Hall.
Many people know that mice and other pests carry a variety of
diseases. Whether or not a mice bites a person is of no consequence
humans can contract diseases from mice with no actual contact with the
mouse itself. Mice damage buildings and contaminate food storages.
Everywhere a mouse goes, it leaves it's droppings and urine. This
excrement is more than troublesome mess. Beyond the obvious problems
with mouse droppings (food contamination, etc.),mouse droppings have
the potential to emit aerosols of a virus known as the "hantavirus." If
left untreated the virus can cause a human fatality within days.
Symptoms emerge in progression of fever, diarrhea, chills, headache,
shortness of breath, and eventually cardiac arrest.
In any event of infestation, proper measures to combat and remove
the pests must be taken to ensure the continued health and safety of
the residents as well as staff. I feel the Department of Residence Life
should take immediate measures to put an end to this infestation before
it becomes a problem of unimaginable proportions. Female mice are bred
every four to five weeks, and have litters of anywhere between six and
ten. Within three weeks the litters are capable of leaving the nest.
This infestation must be confronted and it must be eradicated as soon
as possible. The longer the infestation is ignored, the more
problematic it will become. Furthermore, I fear that with the high
level of traffic from summer conferences and camps, the Department of
Residence Life is only a phone call, email, or letter from a concerned
parent to the Health Board away from receiving much unnecessary bad
press.
With the concerns I have voiced in this letter, it is my
recommendation that the following actions be taken as soon as possible:
1. A thorough inspection and walk through (and around) to seal any
entrances mice may be using to enter the building at the ground level
and in the floor boards of the first floor of Wilson Hall. 2. A foot
-wide strip of gravel be placed around the perimeter of the building.
3. Immediate contact of a professional extermination service to take
extreme actions such as smoke bombing, or poison baiting the entire
building. 4. A formal request be made for service animals (felines) to
be placed in the basement of Wilson Hall (because there is no central
air ducting, there is a very slim chance of allergens reaching
residents).
It is not expected that all of my recommendations will be carried
out, however, I feel it is important and necessary to confront this
infestation in order to provide a quality as well as healthy living
environment for our student residents.