Mice love to dine 'al desko'

Elle Patterson enjoys the fresh air. Photo / Janna Dixon

Take a good look at your keyboard when you get to work tomorrow - you may be surprised what dangers could be lurking beneath the keys.

The modern habit of dining "al desko" is leaving a smorgasbord of crumbs for unwelcome visitors in offices across New Zealand, say pest control officers.

They say rodent numbers - already high after a long, hot summer - are on the increase due to unhygienic practices.

It comes as scientists in the UK say they have found evidence that mice press down on keys to get at crumbs left by workers who eat at their desk.

Rentokil Pest Control national technical manager Jon Thompson said it was increasingly common to find mice infestations on the "top floors" of high-rise office blocks in New Zealand.

"They will get everywhere. There will definitely be odours of food coming out of the keyboard," he said.

Wellington Pest Management managing director Darren Labrum said mice had a strong sense of smell and were attracted by all kinds of odours.

"They will feed on anything from crumbs right up to coffee residue on a desk. They like clambering on things and getting on keyboards."

Female mice can reproduce from 6 weeks old and give birth to between four and seven pups every 24 to 28 days after a 19-day gestation period.

Labrum said the mild autumn had triggered an extra breeding cycle. "After a week of cold nights they're now starting to go crazy and come inside.

"As long as there's people around there's going to be rodents around." He said it was important to educate workers on desk cleanliness and keep work areas food-free.

Labrum said rodents' favourite foods included meat, fish oil and peanut butter.

Terminator Pest Control Services owner Chris Ault said as well as rats and mice, his Auckland firm was seeing an increase in office cockroach infestations.

As well as the colder weather Ault put the change down to development around the city that is displacing colonies of rats, mice and cockroaches.

Healthy lunch breaks

Elle Patterson makes a point of eating lunch away from her office.

As well as enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, the 29-year-old Auckland legal secretary protects her computer keyboard and tries to keep it clean.

Patterson uses a fan to flush out crumbs about once a month, and wipes down her desk.

"I don't think it's a good look," she says of eating at the desk.

Patterson had a mice infestation in her flat while living in London and doesn't want a repeat experience.

She plans to keep her lunch breaks an outdoor affair as long as the weather lets her.

"It's much healthier for you if you get out of the office. It makes the day seem shorter."