A rat burrow discovered at Mount Hebron High School last week was filled in during the weekend, and no rodent activity has occurred since , the principal said Tuesday.
“It?s problematic outside, because there are rats living in the woods, and we?re surrounded by woods,” said Principal Dave Brown.
The school?s pest-management service was called to investigate after a parent had e-mailed Brown claiming she had seen a rat after leaving a meeting at the school Thursday, Brown said.
The burrow could have been from another rodent, but inspectors believed a rat was more probable, he said.
The burrow was found by some bushes just a few feet from the front door.
School officials repeatedly have denied rats have entered the school.
A trap was set up, the hole was filled Saturday and the area hasn?t been disturbed since, Brown said.
Since the school confirmed that rats were spotted outside in the courtyard in mid-September, Brown said pest crews regularly have been inspecting the school and the surrounding school property.
The burrow inspectors discovered last week was recent, Brown said. The courtyard is about 50 feet away from the front door.
Traps are usually the first step of attack when evidence of rats is discovered, school system spokeswoman Patti Caplan has said.
Pesticides and chemicals would only be used as a last resort, she said.
Brown said pesticides were used in September because the courtyard was far enough removed from students to not be hazard.
Members of the Help Mount Hebron committee, a community group urging school officials to fix the more-than-40-year-old school, said they are glad the school took prompt action.
“It was our hope that the situation would be soon resolved,” said Cindy Ardinger, chairwoman of Help Mount Hebron committee.
“There is some concern that this has been a repetitive problem, and I hope they continue to address this in an aggressive manner.”
Brown said the best action now is to be diligent in following up on any rat sightings.
“We?ll continue the regular inspections, and if there?s any evidence, we?ll use the appropriate intervention,” he said.
