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Kelowna woman ordered by court to address severe condo rat infestation
A Kelowna woman, Donna Thomson, has been issued a court order to address a severe rat infestation in her condominium unit on Durnin Road. The order follows a civil claim filed by strata owners to force action after the infestation spread through the complex.
Court documents reveal that the unit was filled with debris piled as high as a six-foot ladder. Abell Pest Control reported catching at least 182 rodents in the entire 171-unit complex between April 2025 and May 2026, with 152 of those captures occurring within Thomson’s unit. Pest control workers described the unit as having “floor-to-ceiling debris” and an “uncountable” number of rodent droppings and nests.
Thomson reportedly refused to clean the unit until the rats were killed, despite requests from the strata and complaints from neighbors regarding odors. In May 2025, 119 owners signed a letter requesting the Kelowna Fire Department inspect the unit for health and safety concerns, though the department noted they required permission to enter.
Entities
Abell Pest Control · Donna Thomson · Durnin Road · Interior Health · Kelowna · Kelowna Fire Department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Debris inside the unit was documented as being piled to the height of a six-foot ladder in August 2025. wltribune.com · ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com · kelownacapnews.com · thenorthernview.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] A Kelowna woman was issued a court order to address a rat infestation in her condo unit following a civil claim by strata owners. wltribune.com · ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com · kelownacapnews.com · thenorthernview.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Kelowna Fire Department stated it could only access the unit with permission following a request for inspection. wltribune.com · ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com · kelownacapnews.com · thenorthernview.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Pest control reported an uncountable number of rodent droppings, nests, and breeding areas in the unit. wltribune.com · ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com · kelownacapnews.com · thenorthernview.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Donna Thomson's unit accounted for 152 of the rodent captures in the complex. wltribune.com · ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com · kelownacapnews.com · thenorthernview.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] At least 182 rodents were caught in the strata complex between April 8, 2025, and May 1, 2026. vancouverislandfreedaily.com · aldergrovestar.com · cloverdalereporter.com · nanaimobulletin.com · wltribune.com · +3 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Strata owners filed a civil claim to force action regarding a rat infestation in a specific unit. vancouverislandfreedaily.com · aldergrovestar.com · cloverdalereporter.com · nanaimobulletin.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Donna Thomson’s unit accounted for 152 of the rodent captures. vancouverislandfreedaily.com · aldergrovestar.com · cloverdalereporter.com · nanaimobulletin.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Debris inside the unit was piled to the height of a six-foot ladder as of August 2025. vancouverislandfreedaily.com · aldergrovestar.com · cloverdalereporter.com · nanaimobulletin.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Kelowna Fire Department stated it could only access the unit with permission. vancouverislandfreedaily.com · aldergrovestar.com · cloverdalereporter.com · nanaimobulletin.com