Reporters scramble after mouse falls from White House ceiling

Reporters got a surprise when a mouse fell from the ceiling at the White House. Photo / Twitter

Reporters got a surprise Tuesday (local time) when a mouse fell from the ceiling at the White House.

The rodent fell onto the lap of NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander about 10.45am, eventually seeking refuge amid a tangle of wires behind a shelf.

In other news: A mouse literally fell out of the ceiling in our White House booth and landed on my lap.

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 1, 2019

Some reporters ran for cover, while others sought to corner the mouse and capture it. The rodent sneaked under the door into the main hall of the press area before it eventually ran into the briefing room, where reporters lost track of it.

Social media was bombarded with images of the mouse and the subsequent hunt.

Mouse hunt in the White House press room pic.twitter.com/hRyZTR0kpn

— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) October 1, 2019

The most excitement in the White House briefing room in months. Reporters attempt to capture a baby mouse that fell on ⁦@PeterAlexander⁩ lap moments ago pic.twitter.com/6zWRZfTAaq

— Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) October 1, 2019

NEWS: A mouse literally fell out of the cieling at the White House onto @PeterAlexander’s lap. pic.twitter.com/xszUSvejfL

— Elyse PG (@elysepg) October 1, 2019

Status update: a mouse has escaped the office area, now running free in WH press briefing room. Chase underway. pic.twitter.com/UzhnCeBSD8

— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) October 1, 2019

Mice, rats, cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies aren't new to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., proving an enduring problem for commanders in chief and a popular metaphor for their critics. As Caroline Harrison, wife of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, once noted:

"The rats have nearly taken the building so it has become necessary to get a man with ferrets to drive them out. They have become so numerous and bold that they get up on the table."

President Donald Trump was even more concise in 2017, when he reportedly pointed out that the White House is a "real dump."

Late last year, a rat made its way onto the White House lawn. The White House and Lafayette Square are maintained by the National Park Service, which conducts rodent sweeps weekly.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The District of Columbia allocated an additional US$906,000 this year to help the Department of Health get a handle on the city's rat problem.

Calls about rodents to the city's 311 line reached an all-time high in 2017, according to data collected by The Washington Post, totaling 5,310.