Who are the biggest pests in Moray schools?
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Ants and wasps have been revealed as the biggest problem when it comes to pests found in Moray schools.
However one primary has also sought advice on how to deal with a badger.
Between the start of 2018 and last December, there were 49 cases of ants and 47 of wasps in local authority schools.
Pest controllers also had to deal with 40 instances of mice, plus 15 more where a way in had been found by rats. There more instances were recorded for bees and one relating to gulls.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has revealed a total of 167 incidents of pests and vermin in Moray schools over the five-year period.
Buckie High saw the largest number with 22. These include one case each for rats and bees, two for mice and 17 for ants.
Dyke has the highest incidents for a primary school with 15. These include eight wasp removals, six for mice and one involving rats.
Of the council’s 46 primaries only nine did not have to call in pest control.
They are Craigellachie, Findochty, Keith, Mortlach in Dufftown, Milne’s in Fochabers and Portgordon along with Elgin schools Linkwood and West End.
Inveravon Primary in Ballindalloch is also on that list, but has been mothballed since August 2017 and is being considered for closure.
Keith Grammar is the only secondary out of the eight in Moray not to have had a problem.
Meanwhile, the incident with the badger happened at Cullen Primary School during 2020.
None of the schools had to close for pest control work to be carried out.
Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) feels that while instances of vermin were not particularly high, it does raise hygiene issues.
She said: "There’s been no school days lost, but it’s the upset and distress it causes.
"There is also hygiene issues with mice and more so with rats. If they’re in school areas where children are eating food it’s a concern."
Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) is the council's leader as well as chair of its education committee.
Praising the efforts of the local authority's pest control team, she said: "While we all understand the risks from vermin and pests it can be difficult to keep them out.
"We have an excellent team who deal with these incidents. Indeed, I've used them myself to eradicate a rather large wasp nest in my own home.
"I can reassure people that, once reported, these issues are dealt with swiftly."
