A year-long mouse infestation in a shared house in Vancouver left residents struggling to sleep and protect their food from persistent rodents.
The infestation began in winter 2023, when one resident started hearing noises from the ceiling of a basement room. Sightings soon spread through the nine-person house, with mice eventually appearing in bedrooms and common areas.
Residents found food in cupboards repeatedly damaged or eaten. Attempts to remove the mice included exterminators and sealing gaps with steel wool, but the measures did not stop the infestation.
As the problem continued through summer, the mice became increasingly visible around the house. One resident described seeing mice walk towards them while they were working at a desk, while another housemate reportedly woke to find a mouse chewing their hair.
The residents could not recall exactly when the infestation ended, with the experience leaving a lasting fear of seeing mice inside the home.
The account was published as part of The Guardian’s “The pest I’ll never forget” series, which features personal experiences with unwanted animals and insects.
Source: The Guardian
