The residents said the rats, which they believe are coming from a nearby abandoned home with an overgrown backyard, have been chewing through the walls and screen doors of their houses, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Tuesday.

"Now, they are in my house and eating through screens and biting through walls," neighbor Bob Huck said. "We've never had a rat problem and we've been here six years. I'm sure if we quit mowing our grass, someone would be on our butts to make it clean."

Huck and at least one other resident, David Fulton, said they are putting out poison pellets and traps in and attempt to curb the invasion.

A municipal representative said a city contractor has been hired to mow the overgrown yard of the abandoned house next week.