Franklin Co. Farm Rat Infestation Reportedly Under Control

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A massive rat infestation at a Franklin County poultry farm appears to be under control.

Last month, a major rat infestation was discovered at a poultry farm on Toms Creek Road in Franklin County that’s owned by OK Foods, which is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

So many rats had invaded the farm, they were crossing State Route 145 by the thousands.

Last week, Franklin County Environmental Health Department Director Louis Korff said OK Foods has taken major steps to remove the vermin.

Korff says it appears the company’s efforts to control the rat population at that poultry farm have been successful.

On Sunday, December 13th people began calling the Franklin County Sheriff’s office to complain about thousands of rats running across State Route 145.

At one point so many dead rats were found in the roadway, deputies had to close off part of the road so crews could clean up the carcasses.

Another problem was the rats were migrating to surrounding farms.

Korff says OK Foods has taken a number steps to kill the rats and to ensure they don’t come back, like building up the foundation, covering entrance points, putting out bait traps and introducing a new kind of rat bait to the farm.

Korff goes on to say that he will continue to monitor the chicken operations for the foreseeable future.