Cornell University residence hall plagued with mice infestation

Officials at the Ithaca, N.Y., campus say the infestation stems from the lack of cleanliness and poor food management.

Feb. 16, 2022

2 min read

Ganędagǫ: Hall, a student residence at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., is dealing a mouse infestation.

After returning to campus for the spring 2022 semester, several students have found mice in their trash cans, and some students have complained of experiencing a rodent allergy, reports The Cornell Daily Sun.

Tim Blair, Cornell's executive director of housing and residential life, said that his department is addressing the infestation at Ganędagǫ: by placing traps in the affected portions of the building’s first floor.

According to Blair, the mouse infestation partially stems from lack of cleanliness and food management within the residence hall.

“This situation provided a clear reminder of how important it is for residents to take trash from their rooms to the provided dumpsters promptly and regularly, to keep any perishables in refrigerators and to keep non-perishable food in airtight storage bins or other suitable containers,” Blair said.

The residence hall has experienced a higher volume of food in its rooms because of changes to move-in policies that resulted in dining halls being closed for the first two weeks of the spring semester. As a result, many students were eating more frequently in their rooms.

The mouse infestation at Ganędagǫ: also resulted in financial strain on students who needed to find temporary housing until the issue was resolved.