Parents raise concerns over mice infestation at Saanich Peninsula schools

Concerns about rodent activity at several schools on the Saanich Peninsula have prompted increased mitigation efforts by the Saanich School District (SD63), with parents, staff and community members calling for a long-term solution.

The issue has drawn attention in recent weeks following reports from parents and staff at multiple schools, including Brentwood Elementary and North Saanich Middle School.

In a community Facebook group, one parent described the situation at Brentwood Elementary as having gone “far beyond the normal acceptable level,” alleging that students have seen mice in classrooms and that staff have been regularly cleaning up rodent droppings.

The Facebook post generated dozens of comments from parents, staff and community members.

One commenter identifying themselves as a teacher said facilities crews had recently been sealing holes in baseboards and cupboards but suggested gaps around doors remained a concern.

Another commenter said they had observed rodent droppings on student desks and expressed concern about the impact on staff and students.

Victoria Buzz also received an anonymous email from an individual supporting the claim that rodent activity has been reported at multiple SD63 schools.

The email included allegations that a teacher at North Saanich Middle School had killed a rat in a classroom and that a student had found mice inside a desk.

In response to questions from Victoria Buzz, SD63 said it has been actively monitoring rodent activity throughout the district and has increased its response efforts.

“The District has been actively monitoring rodent activity across all locations and has increased response measures based on the volume of reports,” the district said in a statement.

The district said those measures include working closely with licensed pest control professionals, implementing enhanced cleaning protocols and reinforcing staff education around proper food storage.

“Addressing rodent activity requires a comprehensive approach involving sanitation, structural prevention, and ongoing treatment. We are actively implementing all of these measures,” the statement continued.

“While we are beginning to see improvement, we will continue our efforts to control and minimize activity on an ongoing basis.”

Parents at Brentwood Elementary were also recently sent a letter acknowledging concerns about mice at the school.

In the letter obtained by Victoria Buzz, the district said rodent populations have increased throughout the province in recent years. SD63 also noted that BC permanently restricted the widespread use of many second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in 2023 to help protect wildlife from secondary poisoning.

The district said it has been conducting regular inspections at Brentwood Elementary and has implemented additional measures, including sealing potential entry points, increasing cleaning supplies and maintaining regular pest control services.

A focused cleaning effort was also scheduled to address areas that are accessed less frequently.

While mice are not uncommon in schools and other large public buildings, experts generally recommend prompt mitigation due to the potential for contamination of food and surfaces through droppings and urine.

The district emphasized that addressing rodent activity is an ongoing process that involves sanitation, exclusion measures and treatment rather than a single solution.

For now, SD63 says it will continue working with pest control professionals and school staff as efforts continue to reduce rodent activity across affected schools.