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Dayton daycare taking steps to reduce mice problem

UPDATE @ 4:10 p.m. (Feb. 2)

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which licenses daycare centers in the state, said Tuesday they are investigating the mice infestation at Early Learning Tree Children’s Center on North Main Street in Dayton, said Benjamin Johnson, JFS spokesman.

The investigation could take up to two weeks, but any findings of violations will be posted on the JFS website.

FIRST REPORT (Feb. 1)

A Dayton daycare is working on corrective steps to reduce a mice problem at the facility.

An anonymous complaint to Public Health of Dayton & Montgomery County led to an inspection the following day at Early Learning Tree Children’s Center on North Main Street in Dayton.

A complaint was made by phone Jan. 26 to the health department’s division of environmental health about a possible mice infestation problem at the facility, including the kitchen, said Bill Wharton, spokesman for public health.

Wharton said that complaint did prompt an inspection the next day.

Wharton said while no mice or mice droppings were observed, the person in charge did admit “she was aware mice had been seen in the center.”

Dorothy Pultz, owner of Early Learning Tree Children’s Center, said Monday she does have an exterminator for the facility and “have for years.”

Pultz said she does know of a mouse that “comes in in the mornings.”

“We also have to make sure we don’t have roaches and other things; there are lots of critters out there,” Pultz said. “It happens all over the world.”

According to the inspection report from Jan. 28, the daycare center was also doing repairs to doors to eliminate gaps and was putting down glue traps.

During that inspection, other violations were found including some physical facilities not in good repair and some physical facilities not cleaned as often as necessary, including the floors in the kitchen area observed with food and dirt debris build-up. The daycare was directed to clean the floor areas and behind the coolers.

“You never want to have rodents or mice of any kind in a food operation; we always try to make sure we don’t have bugs, insects, mice,” Wharton said.

The local health department will be following up with the daycare center, Wharton said.