Management says pest control has visited multiple times. The 87-year-old resident says she’s still desperate for help.
TOMBALL, Texas — Less than a year after KHOU 11 reported on broken elevators at a Tomball senior living complex, residents at the same property are now raising concerns about another issue: mice infestations inside apartments.
For 87-year-old Janice Crowe, the problem has become unbearable.
Crowe said she has been living with mice inside her apartment at HomeTowne at Tomball since January. Inside her unit, mouse traps line the floor, food is stored in coolers and towels are stuffed under doors.
She showed KHOU 11 mouse droppings throughout her kitchen and holes she said mice chewed through.
“I’ve never never seen anything like this,” Crowe said. “It seems like the mice just keep coming and coming.”
Crowe said she has not been able to cook or safely store food in her kitchen for months.
“Because I can’t put anything in here because mice will get on it,” she said.
She said the infestation has taken a major toll on her mental and physical health. Crowe said she now sleeps in a recliner because she is afraid to sleep in her bed.
“Oh, it’s awful I can’t sleep, I don’t know when I’ve slept,” Crowe said. “I’ll get in the middle of the bed and wrap myself like a mummy with a sheet and wear a mask and leave the lights on because they’re not as active with the lights on.”
While KHOU 11 was inside the apartment, photojournalist Scott McKenney helped remove two live mice from the unit.
Crowe’s neighbor, Susie Weedn, said she eventually sent a letter to the City of Tomball asking for help.
In the letter, Weedn wrote that Crowe had trapped more than 38 mice in her apartment over a three-week period.
“These senior citizens can’t do more than they’re trying to do taking care of themselves,” Weedn said.
Residents said a city enforcement officer came out to inspect the property earlier this week. They said some holes inside the apartment have since been patched, but believe much more still needs to be done.
“I’m 87 years old and I don’t need to be breathing mouse droppings,” Crowe said.
Crowe, who is on a fixed income, said she has spent money out of pocket on traps and food delivery while hoping management can temporarily move her somewhere else while the infestation is addressed.
“I need help,” Crowe said. “Desperate, I need help.”
In a statement to KHOU 11, management at HomeTowne at Tomball said the issue involving apartment 334 was first reported April 20 and said pest control has since visited the apartment multiple times while maintenance crews patched holes and assisted with cleanup efforts.
Management also said bait stations around the buildings are serviced monthly by a pest control vendor.
The complex disputed claims Crowe was ignored and said she initially requested maintenance wait several days before entering the apartment so she could clean first. Management also said no other residents have reported similar issues and confirmed no temporary accommodations were offered during treatment efforts.
In a statement to KHOU 11, the City of Tomball said:
“The City of Tomball Code Enforcement Officers were contacted today regarding concerns of rodent activity at a local property. We are coordinating with the property owner to ensure mitigation and sanitation measures are implemented as quickly as possible. The health and safety of our residents and businesses are our top priority, and we will be monitoring the situation to ensure that this matter is resolved.”
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