There is a growing problem that one Central Illinois Community cannot seem to trap.
The furry animals otherwise known as rats have some area residents taking a rodent dilemma into their own hands.
News 25's Syreeta Baker Reports.

The pied piper might need to pay a visit to West Peoria.
Linda Smith says for the past three weeks rats have been marking their territory.
"We started seeing rat feces by the pool filter and my garbage man told me he saw two, jump out of my neighbor's garbage can and run up my sidewalk."
That reported rat run-in propelled Smith to take action.

"We went to West Peoria City Hall and I reported it and then another gentleman walked in behind me and he reported it. And he's baiting to.
So he has also caught seven and if you think you don't have them, you have them."

Linda Smith says while the rats aren't in their homes they are in the alley ways behind their houses...that's why she's started setting these traps to eliminate the pest one by one.

"We've got a couple problems with rats in different areas.
It's actually less then in has been in years past and we deal with them on a complaint driven basis," says Mayor Jim Dillon.

In the past 14 years since Jim Dillon's been the Mayor he's learned that it's more than just trash that draws in the furry rodents.
"Its seems like every year we have to re-educate some people because people move in and most people don't realize that rats will feed out of a dog pen."
"It's everybody's problem and if you want to keep the population down there are things your going to have to do. Bait if you see hole and you don't have small children or a dog and trap if you do," says Linda Smith.

But until the rats find a new place to call home...Smith plans to keep the traps ready and the peanut butter handy.
Mayor Jim Dillon says the city is looking into proposing an ordinance that will require all residents to have trashcans with lids.