Rodent Infestation Forces Target To Close
A Target in Pikesville, Maryland "has been closed until further notice because of a rodent problem," reports WBAL Baltimore. Target officials wouldn't tell customers why they were closed—our tipster aishel says they told him it was for maintenance, and a person interviewed by WBAL says she was told it was a "water main problem." Target's corporate office, however, confirmed there's a big mouse problem. Update: The store has reopened.
Jonas Jacobson, of the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, said his office got an anonymous complaint at the end of March.
"We went out and found a much larger mouse infestation problem through the store," he said.
Jacobson said rodent carcasses and feces were strewn throughout the store. He said pet food bags and human food containers were also chewed open.
"Rodent Infestation Closes Pikesville Target" [WBALTV]
(Rodent drawing: Violentz)
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Target's corporate office, however, confirmed there's a big mouse problem.
A "big mouse" is sometimes called a "rat". A "real big mouse" is called a "possum".
I'm not impressed. I can go to Wal-Mart and get a rodent cheaper!
Lame. Everyone knows that rat meat is terrible at this time of year. Rats come out of hibernation gaunt and stringy. Wait until October, when they're all plump, and then cook them into a nice stew.
Another friend of mine just tried going earlier, they turned her away saying they were having "electrical issues". It's like they have a new story every time you go there!
Did Disney release their entire lineup from the "vault" available exclusively at Target?
They should go to a local animal shelter for some kitties.
They should be happy all they have is rodents. If they had something worse, they'd need the big guns:
@aishel: well if enough 'big mice' chewed enough wires [or peed on the outlets] they WOULD have electrical problems
@Canino:In Australia we call them Kangaroos (and yes, you really can fit 5 states the size of Texas into Western Australia)
@Canino: That's my wife's thinking as well. In fact, she says since Mickey Mouse is so large, he should be called Mickey Possum.
Well... if the rats have chewed wires, then it is an electrical problem. If they've gotten into the sewer system it is a water problem. Technically they are maintaining building... So none of it is lies, just different aspects of the same problem :)
@Canino: its just one really fat mouse that sits in the warehouse and eats the deli meats. They just dont know how to get rid of em.
Well maybe they are keeping it as a pet... well more like them....them be pets yo!
So that Archer Farms free small pet offer in the grocery department wasn't a real promotion?
Ew, just ew.
So Corporate has no problem admitting that there is a rodent problem, but the store finds it necessary to lie even though the local news media has reported that it is a rodent problem.
Hey Target of Pikesville, this is how you "spin" it and keep your customers:
"Dear Target of Pikesville customers. We recently discovered a rodent problem in our storage room. Exterminators have been called in to handle the situation, and out of an abundance of caution we are temporarially closing the store so that it may be thoroughly inspected and cleaned. We anticipate re-opening on April XX. The closest Target store is located at_____. We apoligize for any inconvenience."
My girlfriend bought a bag of M&M's there the other day, and was concerned because when she got home she noticed the bag was open. Of course she figured it was nothing, I said "I'm sure it's fine", and that was that. This is... slightly more troubling.
Well, at least there's a Wal-Mart nearby to pick up the slack. ;-)
@willdude: I woudn't have eaten those. Tampering, whether it's some kid wanting a snack to someone lacing the product, is something I'm always paranoid about so i won't buy anything that even remotely looks like it's been opened.
I guess I don't understand why this is newsworthy. Why is The Consumerist wasting our time and bandwidth with this issue. Outbreaks of pests are common in large structures, but Target has done the right thing by closing the store until it can be resolved.
Good to see you trotted out the FECES tag. I'm especially glad you didn't put it next to the BIG BOX tag.
@aishel:
That's what happens when you hire a guy with an axe to kill mice. First he cut a water pipe, now he cut an electrical line.
So many smart ass comments come to mind that I think I will just say "couldn't happen to a more deserving chain". I expect Leno and Letterman will have this on their shows tonight.
I did like the story so much I put it on my blog: [targetfiling.blogspot.com]
@baumzuchter: Not only did they lie about the causes, it points to a larger problem in that Target obviously did not spot the signs of a rodent problem before it grew to an infestation. Rodents don't just show up 300 strong, it starts with a few and then they multiply. At some point, the signs should have been pretty clear to this particular Target, and they should have contained the problem. Rodent carcasses were lying around. No one noticed a smell? No one thought it strange that bags of pet food get punctured and spilled?
Instead of the pitbull with the eye target, now they can have a little rat!
Rodents.. Hey, I didn't know the execs of the banks shopped at Target...
@baumzuchter: There was enough of a preview on the main page to let you know what this article would be about. If you chose to follow the link and read the rest of the article, that's on you, not the site.
I am sick of people on this site complaining about "this isn't news", "this isn't for consumers", "why don't you run the site the way I think it should be". If you don't like the site, don't visit, and definitely don't crap up the comments section with your whining.
@squinko:
Exactly. Also, The Consumerist often posts news, but it is not a news site. It's a blog. It is for news AS WELL as entertainment, and this story is entertaining. Go to Consumer Reports if you don't want entertaining stories about rat infestations.
My cousin related the most hilarious story about working at a Kmart and having to vacuum up mice and dog food from a bagged dog food display that was put in a bad corner of the store near the outside garden area. The bags of food had not been rotated and had become both a buffet and nesting place for the rodents. He related that hundreds of mice ran when another worker lifted the aisle end shelf metal base as he vacuumed them up as fast as he could. He did say they sucked up some water afterward to drown the still living ones in the vacuum tub and left the vacuum for the manager to empty.
@I_am_Awesome: At least they didn't bring in a shotgun toting goober. Where I grew up years ago a foodstore was shut down for repairs because one of the workers used his shotgun to try and kill a couple of birds who had taken up residence in the store. Can you say epic fail? Especially when his very light shot still cratered the wall and ceiling...
"Alright everybody tuck your pants into your socks!"
@Felix the Cat: Target's pretty benign imho. They should be held to task like any company should when it comes to cleanliness, customer service, and employee rights. They screw up the way any business does - and the consumerist is there to call them on it.
I'm not ready to group Target in with Walmart, Comcast, Capital One, and myriad insurance companies. They haven't arisen to the level of "blight" yet for me.
Your smattering of scantily clad females throughout your blog is most appreciated, though.
If I buy one, what's the return policy?