Debris removed after resident reports rat infestation

Hurricane Irma debris blamed for housing rats

OCKLAWAHA, Fla. – Residents in Marion County can pass along their streets with ease, after crews on Wednesday cleared away debris from Hurricane Irma.

Several residents blamed the leftover debris for causing a rat problem, including one resident who trapped seven rats during the past week. 

 "When I heard the trucks, I was like, 'This is fantastic news,'" said Joe LeJeune.

There has been debris sitting in his neighborhood for two months since Hurricane Irma hit, waiting to be picked up by Marion County crews. 

"I've never dealt with rats before," said LeJeune, who has lived in his house for 14 years without ever seeing a rat. "Occasionally a mouse when I lived in other places, but seven rats in one week, that's insane."   

After a News 6 story about the rats aired Tuesday night, crews were out Wednesday morning picking up debris along the street. 

"I'm grateful. I'm grateful you guys came out and got me results," LeJeune said.

And LeJeune doesn't appear to be alone.

A representative from Big Pines Hardware & Supply told News 6 they have more than doubled their sales of rat bait packs year-to-year since Hurricane Irma, especially in the past two weeks. 

"I just had talked to my in-laws who had to set traps in their brand new house," LeJeune said. "And my buddy, his dogs caught two rats on their porch. So I knew I wasn't alone in this battle." 

Cleanup crews continue to pick up damage from the hurricane, in a county roughly the size of Rhode Island. 

"Just have to wait and see if I catch some more rats but at least the debris is gone," LeJeune said. "Maybe that will squash the problem."

With crews working seven days a week, Marion County leaders told News 6 they hope to finish the first pass of debris pickup throughout the county by Thanksgiving, and get started with a second pass shortly after that.


About the Author:

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

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