SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
It turns out there is a huge infestation of dirty rats in Salem - and this is not a joke about local politicians.
Workers at the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building on Summer Street are currently battling a major rat problem.
In April, Operations Manager Randy Gengler said employees started hearing scratching under the false floors and in the ceiling tiles.
They soon discovered it was rats, which Gengler said is common in any large building, but this situation quickly got out of control.
"They typically sneak in through under a door, you know, they can get through a little crawl area like that," Gengler said. "But once they're in, if you don't catch it right away, they can reproduce and that's what happened."
Traps are now scattered throughout the building and so far, close to three dozen rats have been caught and killed.
Employees have been asked to remove plants from their desks, only bring food and water to work that's going to be consumed that day and to empty their garbage every night.
Darlene Nelson follows all of those rules because she said running into a rat at work is a repulsive thought.
"I get chills even talking about it, but I know they're doing everything they possibly can," Nelson said.
Building managers said they are working closely with a pest control company and for now, they're using all natural methods to catch and kill the rodents.
They said using toxic bait is their last resort.
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