The rodent control service hired by TU/e to stem the increasing nuisance caused by mice has already let it be known, reports Kuyck, that any further use of bait stations and other pest control methods is pointless at this stage. “There is so much half-eaten food lying around the entire university that these techniques are no longer an option for getting rid of the mice," says Kuyck. "If our cleaners empty the bins right on schedule and five minutes later a stack of boxes containing half-eaten pizzas is left there, you can see how a bait station holds little appeal for a passing mouse.”

According to an internal memo sent to the managing directors and building managers in early December, Kuyck's department has received more than fifty reports of mouse nuisance to date in 2016. The memo lists examples of the careless handling of food leftovers: aside from the dumped pizza boxes, such as bread left in the radiator of the heating system, personal stashes of bread and sandwich fillings kept in offices, and the food waste from impromptu drinks parties held on a Friday afternoon being left to stand all weekend.

The health risks to students and employees are now becoming a concern, one that is already occupying the AMVS service (Occupational Health, Safety, Environment and Radiation Protection). In addition to the mice themselves carrying all kinds of diseases, the food leftovers can trigger an infestation of harmful bacteria and molds.

Raising awareness of the problem and the possible risks is now the number one priority, says Kuyck. “We are reminding people that they need to leave behind a clean desk, to make cleaning easier. Food leftovers must be cleared away at the end of the day, and no food should be left in desks and cupboards. Put food in a well-sealed container where rodents can't get at it. And if you have some food leftovers after the cleaners have been through, put them in a plastic bag and deposit them personally in a sealable dumpster. Don't forget to tidy away dirty crockery and cutlery by putting it in the dishwasher. And remove the remains of dead plants.”

On Friday December 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., before the Christmas vacation gets underway, a major cleaning operation will take place in all the campus buildings. “If there is any risk that waste bins will be left to stand in offices that are closed, we ask people to place those bins in the corridor after 3 p.m. so that our people can still empty them," says Kuyck. "But the most important point, of course, is that after the vacation everyone continues to be aware that we can only eradicate this problem if we handle food leftovers carefully.”