Annapolis Valley elementary dealing with rat problem

Unwelcome rodents have put staff, students and parents on edge at an Annapolis Valley elementary school.

At Brooklyn District Elementary, principal Brenda Newcombe said a single rat was caught last week outside in the boiler room, but there has been evidence of rat activity inside.

“They know there’s one inside because of finding a chewed eraser on the floor,” she said.

Newcombe told The Chronicle Herald the rodents have been outside the school “and we think we have one or two inside.”

The school enlisted the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board’s property services and an outside pest control service, Newcombe said in an April 27 letter to families of the school’s 284 students.

“Our two main issues have been rodents in and around the school and various odours,” she wrote. “They are working hard with us to solve these problems.”

Newcombe said she wouldn’t describe the vermin presence as a problem.

“We’ve had one or two but certainly not a rat issue,” she said. “The school’s had mice come and go. I think a rat or two got in.”

Meanwhile, the pest control company checks the school daily and isn’t finding droppings, she said.

Cameras installed have failed to capture evidence of rat activity, and traps around the school nightly haven’t caught anything.

A couple of holes have been patched, she said.

“I feel this is under control.”

Newcombe said when she checked with the Department of Health she was told the creatures don’t carry diseases that would be a health risk to students.

“I’d never want the students in class with a health risk at all,” she said.

According to the Canadian government website, a rat can weigh up to half a kilogram, just over a pound. Rat issues aren’t limited to the Annapolis Valley.