Gipp, who lives at the property managed by the Delaware County Housing Authority, has been keeping a running tally on her refrigerator and documenting the problem with photos and written notes. She’s also set dozens of traps around her apartment and says she’s spent hundreds of dollars trying to get rid of the mice since February.
The problem has taken a toll on her sleep, too. In an interview with NBC10 Philadelphia, Gipp said she sometimes goes to her sister’s home on weekends just to get some rest — and a break from all of the stress.
“I can’t take this squealing and everything at night,” she told the news outlet. “I’m afraid to sleep in my bed.”
The housing authority says it’s working to address the infestation. In a March 30 letter to residents, management acknowledged the mouse problem and said treatment would begin in April. In an Oct. 28 email to Gipp, a housing authority official said management was taking appropriate measures for the ongoing infestation. Another notice, sent Nov. 5, said more treatment was coming.
Moneywise reached out to the Delaware County Housing Authority for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
Gipp isn’t sure how widespread the problem is or whether her neighbors are dealing with the same number of mice.
The hidden costs of a mouse infestation
Mice can do more than keep you awake at night with their incessant scratching. And once they’re in your home — through surprisingly small openings as narrow as a one-quarter-inch — they can eat and contaminate food supplies. Their chewing can also damage buildings, according to the University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.
All that can mean replacing food stored in chewed packaging or throwing away groceries that may have come into contact with droppings or urine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to take precautions when cleaning up after rodents. If mice get into walls or insulation, repairs can add to the cost. Chewed electrical wiring can also create a potential fire hazard.
For Gipp, the costs have already added up to a sizable amount. She says she’s spent hundreds of dollars on traps and other efforts to control the infestation. Renters may also find themselves paying for extra cleaning supplies, replacing contaminated food, or booking a hotel if the infestation becomes bad enough that they can’t stay in their apartment and have nowhere else to go.
