When Langley City resident Danielle Arbour heard the scratching and tapping sounds in the walls of her unit in the Centennial Manor, she thought it was noise from a neighbouring suite.
In the 20 years she and her daughter have lived in the subsidized housing complex currently managed by the Langley Lions Housing Society (LLHS) in the 20600 block of Eastleigh Crescent in Langley City, they had never had a pest problem.
香蕉视频直播淚 keep my place clean,香蕉视频直播 she told the Langley Advance Times.
Then, about two months ago, mice appeared, running across her living room carpet.
香蕉视频直播淲e found out [about the mice] from another neighbour who has had them for over seven months,香蕉视频直播 Arbour recalled.
香蕉视频直播淎nd by then it was too late and they were in our unit.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淭hey chewed a hole into my living room,香蕉视频直播 Arbour elaborated.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 numerous holes in my stairs.香蕉视频直播
READ ALSO:
She found a 香蕉视频直播渉uge nest香蕉视频直播 behind her fridge.
After that, she said, cockroaches arrived from another suite.
For the last months, she and her 24-year-old daughter Elizabeth McCallum have been battling the infestation.
They estimate they have trapped more than a dozen mice over a two month period.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the stuff of nightmares and horror movies,香蕉视频直播 McCallum commented.
Arbour estimates they have spent hundreds of dollars on cleaning supplies.
At least two other suites in the subsidized housing complex have reported similar infestations.
On the advice of a pest control company, Arbour is keeping all her food in glass jars.
Food for her elderly 14-year-old dog Shi Tzu Zoey is now kept in the fridge, and Arbour washes out the dish immediately after feedings.
Doors have been taken off closets, and mice have chewed holes in the living room sofa-bed, she said.
香蕉视频直播淚 saved up four years to buy that couch,香蕉视频直播 Arbour related. 香蕉视频直播淣ow, I can香蕉视频直播檛 use it.香蕉视频直播
After a nest was discovered in a freezer, in the back where the compressor motor is, it was unplugged and now sits in her front yard.
Arbour said the infestation appeared to coincide with the recent demolition of some older townhouses on the same street.
READ ALSO:
Jeanette Dagenais, LLHS executive director, said the society has received 香蕉视频直播渃onfirmed reports from sources that state that the increase in mice is most likely due to the demolitions.香蕉视频直播
Dagenais said the society has a pest control contract 香蕉视频直播渨ith a reputable company that we have been working with for years of whom we have every confidence on their ability to deal with rodents and pests such as cockroaches.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淚n addition, our employees in the maintenance department have been working diligently to plug all holes and crevices with steel wool as was recommended by the pest control company,香蕉视频直播 Dagenais said.
LLHS took over management of the 36-unit building in 2008 after it was approached by another society.
Carl Johannsen, Langley City director of development services, said the City has begun requiring what are known as 香蕉视频直播渞odent letters香蕉视频直播 from developers before any demolition proceeds 香蕉视频直播 a document that shows the premises have been inspected by a recognized pest control agency to ensure the the demolitions don香蕉视频直播檛 displace rats and mice to nearby buildings.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to have problems with rodents,香蕉视频直播 Johannsen commented.
At the time of the Eastleigh demolitions, letters were not an automatic requirement, but Johannsen said the developer has told the City that there did not appear to be a problem prior to the teardown.
Langley Township also requires rodent letters.
For Arbour, the stress of battling mice and bugs is taking an emotional toll.
香蕉视频直播淚 feel like a complete failure and I香蕉视频直播檓 getting severely depressed, and we are both struggling with severe emotional distress and anxiety,香蕉视频直播 she expressed.
Arbour, who is on disability, said she and her daughter are trying to find another place, but there doesn香蕉视频直播檛 appear to be anything in their price range.
This is a building with seniors, disabled and low income families mostly single moms and we can not afford to move,香蕉视频直播 she said.
She has even, out of desperation, looked into staying at homeless shelters.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter