Exchange District campus using preventative measures to mitigate rodent risk

By: Delaney O’Hara

Many heritage buildings in the Exchange District, like the RRC Polytech Exchange District Campus, make great homes for mice. 

“As temperatures go down at night, and the days get a little bit cooler, we do start to see some activity on campus,” said Conor Lloyd, the director of public relations at Red River College Polytechnic. 

Getting into a building only requires a hole as big as a pencil, so cracks in the foundations of old buildings make the perfect entrance, according to Taz Stuart of Poulin’s Pest Control.

“When a mouse finds its way into a building, it leaves a scent so that other mice can find their way in,” Stuart said. 

Once in a building, mice find a routine and stick to it – they rarely travel more than 30 feet from their nests.

Abell Soft Bait mousetrap outside the basement recording studios at the Exchange District Campus./DELANEY O’HARA

Stuart also said that just because mice stick to their habits doesn’t mean they don’t cause problems. Mice can also cause fires or power outages if they get into wiring. 

“They can crawl across your keyboards or your desk, and you don’t want to have urine or fecal matter in those situations,” said Stuart. 

Keeping mice out of buildings is the best way to prevent these issues. 

“[RRC Polytech works] very closely with our facilities management team and our exterminators to ensure that we are regularly inspecting all exteriors of the campus, as well as any interior entry points,” said Lloyd.  

To ensure mice do not become an issue on campus, Lloyd said they use various traps and practices and have been working hard to keep mice out since the campus opened about 20 years ago.

“It hasn’t been disruptive to any of our operations or caused a health and safety risk. And part of that is because the college community is very diligent,” said Lloyd.

Mice are attracted to food left out, but Lloyd said staff and students do an excellent job of not leaving messes around.

“Our approach has always been incredibly aggressive towards it so that we can maintain our operations and keep a very safe and clean campus for our entire community.”