On Nov. 7, 8, and 9, the facilities department of Skyline College received numerous reports of not only sightings, but evidence of a rodent infestation on campus.

According to Richard Inokuchi, facilities manager for Skyline, he claimed that people saw evidence of the rodents in buildings 1, 2, 5, 7, portable 3E and the automotive department building.

“We’ve had a rodent problem from time to time in the last couple of weeks,” said Inokuchi. He blamed the recent increase in rainfall as to why the campus has been experiencing the increase of mice. He also added that food intentionally left behind gives rodents a food source, which can trigger them to be more complacent and secure enough to call Skyline their home.

Rats and mice carry numerous disease-causing parasites that could greatly endanger a person’s health. Rodent urine and feces can carry fatal viruses and bacteria, including the Hantavirus, Typhus, Rat-bite-fever, Salmonella, Leptospirosis and Meningitis, according to AAAnimal Control, a website dedicated to public awareness on animal related problems.

Mice and rats can chew through plenty of office equipment, thus adding more urgency to get rid of them. According to an e-mail sent by Inokuchi to Skyline’s faculty and staff, the word rodent means “to gnaw”.

In response to the potentially dangerous and costly rodent problem, the facilities department hired the professional pest control services of Orkin to produce an accurate assessment and assistance. The company advised the facilities department of Skyline three ways to eliminate the pests, using mechanical traps, glue traps and bait traps which they immediately implemented.

“My guys responded immediately,” said Inokuchi.

Inokuchi said that they are making good progress. Eight empty bait traps filled with a substance fatal to rodents had to be replaced in the last week of November alone. Although they have seen the effectiveness of the actions taken, Inokuchi said that it will take time to judge their efforts.

He also added that the facilities staff has been successful, but still cannot do it alone. He urges students to pick up after themselves and by throwing their waste in the nearest garbage receptacle.

“The most effective way to control rodents is to control their food source,” said Inokuchi.