Problem with air handling system led to death of 60 lab mice at UW-Parkside

KENOSHA (WITI) -- UW-Parkside officials say an equipment problem led to the death of 60 lab mice that perished overnight Wednesday, December 3rd into Thursday, December 4th.

John Mielke, the director of communications at UW-Parkside tells FOX6 News there was a problem with the air handling system, and the Animal Control building got too warm. The building is a former storage area converted into a facility to house the mice used for research.

We're told the mice were being used for science projects. In addition to losing the mice, the students who are nearing the end of the semester lost their projects.

Mielke says there have been no issues with heating or cooling in the building in the past, but campus officials are looking into some type of warning system or alarm to alert personnel if the building were to get too warm or too cold in the future.