"Two Billion" Rats Invade China Lake Towns

At least one affected region reports killing 90 tons of rats in an effort to curb a rodent invasion, linked to recent flooding, that is ravishing crops and threatening public health.

A worker catches rats in central China's Hunan Province on June 23, 2007. The rodents were driven to higher ground and into farmers' fields after the lake flooded and submerged rat holes in the area.

To combat damage to crops and a potential public health risk, residents have been using everything from poison to hammers—and even their bare hands—to kill the rodents.