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Mouse infestation at the Faculty of Science: a new set of measures

Mouse infestation at the Faculty of Science: a new set of measures

Published on 01-04-2025 10:00
You cannot have missed this, partly because of their droppings on your desk: the mice infesting our Science Park campus. Several attempts to suppress them have not yielded the desired results. Therefore, starting tomorrow, a new set of interventions will be introduced.
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This pilot will begin at the Faculty of Science, and if it proves successful the rest of the UvA will follow.

Drawing a line

Anti mice mat
The red line

For a year now, the campus has had a blue anti-smoking line. This indicates where people are allowed to smoke, to keep our campus smoke-free. We translate this campaign to the mice. With the introduction of the Anti-mouse line, we prevent mice from entering the buildings through the appropriate access routes. We literally draw a line through the mouse infestation with this, clearly communicating: up to here and no further, mouse. 

The sign forest

Sign forest
These signs wil discourage the mice.

Of course, it is possible that the mice simply do not know that it is forbidden to be on campus. We are changing this by putting up some unmissable signs. With explicit slogans like ‘No Mice On Campus’ and ‘Stay Out, Mouse!’, we make our house rules crystal clear. Mice that ignore these signs and enter our campus, will have to face our third measure: the CamCats.

CamCats

CamCat, Agent Double O Fur
CamCat, Agent Double O Fur

A tried and tested method: we release a team of cats on campus, specially trained in catching mice. By fitting them with a camera, we know exactly where the mice are located most often. With that information, we can use the cats in an even more targeted way in the future.

We use anti-allergenic cats. Should you still be worried about a possible allergic reaction, you can pick up an air-purr-ifyier at C2.149. Privacy has also been considered; the cameras blur anyone automatically who does not look like a mouse.

This way, together, we ensure a mouse-free, hypoallergenic Science Park.