Rats are infesting a local neighborhood and now homeowners are trying to figure out the best way to fight them off.

Neighbors living along South Camino Santiago in Pueblo West tell 11 News that hundreds of rats are hiding out in the weeds behind their property. The rats come into window wells at night. Homeowners fear these rodents could carry potential diseases like rabies. One neighbor says she has tried to combat the rats by placing poison pellets in her window wells. She has children and is concerned for her kids to play outside with all the potential health risks the rats pose.

“You don't know the diseases that the rats carry and that the rats have fleas. I have pets as well. I have three dogs that are in my backyard. I have to combat the fleas that they might have.” Tammie Carney.

Carney plans to check with the county health department to see if they have any suggestions.

Pueblo Fire Department officials say if the area was in the city limits of Pueblo there are zoning codes and a weed ordinance where they would cut the weeds down. Because Pueblo West is in a separate district and mostly prairie land they say there is not much they can do.