WACO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – Health officials in Texas say an investigation has started regarding mice being spotted at a Cinemark theater in Waco.
According to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, multiple customers have reported rodent encounters during movie screenings, which has prompted the investigation.
An anonymous customer provided a video of a mouse filmed at the theater in early October, appearing to show the rodent running behind seats while a movie was being played.
Another moviegoer, Abagail Salas, shared that she encountered a mouse while watching a movie at the Cinemark on Oct. 14. She said she heard a customer scream and leave the theater.
“I took out my flashlight and on top of my drink was a rat that had climbed down from my arm and was biting the lid and straw,” Salas said.
Cole Pauley, a fellow Cinemark customer, said he ended up bringing a mousetrap into the theater last Thursday as a precaution.
“I was like, man, I’ll just take mouse traps and build a wall of protection around me just so we don’t have to deal with it,” he said. “They were like, you won’t do that, you’re ridiculous, no one would do what. I said, watch me.”
According to Pauley, his trap caught a mouse by the end of the movie.
“All of this construction is driving these mice out of their fields they live in; they have to go somewhere,” he said. “They’ll get it under control. I’m not really worried about it. It was just something funny.”
Cinemark responded to the rodent complaints, saying it is strengthening its protocols amid the construction.
“Given nearby construction, we’ve strengthened our protocols and partnered with specialists to maintain high standards of cleanliness,” the company shared in a statement. “We’re pleased with the progress and remain committed to delivering an outstanding moviegoing experience for every guest.”
However, Salas disagreed with the theater’s assessment of progress.
“I’ve had coworkers who have gone in the past week, and it [a mouse] crawled up their arms or their laps. To me, these rats or mice are comfortable enough to climb on people now,” she said.
The anonymous customer who filmed the mouse said the rodents pose additional risks, including population growth and food contamination concerns.
“Not only was it gross to see, but the smell was gross. When I stuck my head behind the seats, it smelled like a hamster cage,” the customer said.
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District said its team has “performed onsite inspections and maintains direct communication with facility management one to three times per week,” with Cinemark making “significant progress in addressing the pest concerns.“