Students complain of rat infestation in high school

Students at a Fayette County high school said they have been dealing with a rat infestation for more than a month.  (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Students at a Fayette County high school said they have been dealing with a rat infestation for more than a month. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

School officials in Fayette County say they have been trying to exterminate rodents at Sandy Creek High School, but they're still a problem after more than a month.

One student told Channel 2 Action News that she saw about 40 rats at one time in the field house where student athletes work out.

A dead rat was found by a student in the weight training room, the news station reported.

The athletes told Channel 2 they are still being forced to work out in the field house, despite all of the rats running around.

Fayette County school district officials said the school's principal alerted them to the problem three weeks ago, and that's when they called an exterminator and put out traps.

Many students and parents worry the rats could be carrying diseases and might bite someone.

Parent Theresa Hand said she worries the rats are dangerous.

"I mean, you know, the kids could actually get bit by some of those things,” Hand told Channel 2. “You never know."

School officials said they cut down some shrubs behind the school to decrease the infestation and they will continue to exterminate and monitor the situation.