Video shows a rat roaming a discount store. But should people freak out over it?

A video that shows a big rat strolling inside a downtown Fresno discount store is giving people the creeps.

The 34-second video, shot by Drew Rivera, shows the rodent walking down the aisle of discount retailer Fallas Paredes on Fulton Street. Rivera posted the video Jan. 23 on his Facebook page, where it’s been viewed more than 42,000 times.

Rivera was walking in the area about 10 p.m. when he said he saw multiple rats. He pulled out his phone to record them.

“I was concerned because I just had a baby and those rats can pee on the clothes or a kid can go buy the candy on the rack and get sick,” he said. “Some people think they’re just rats, but I have a kid and this can cause them to get really sick.”

Several commenters on Rivera’s Facebook post said they were grossed out.

“Oh, hell no,” wrote Jenette Escobar.

Others were unfazed. “They are all over Fresno, probably in your own home,” wrote Missy Blue Cisneros.

Sara Ortiz, manager of the Fallas Paredes store, wasn’t happy to see the video posted on social media, but she said the store is doing everything it can to take care of the problem.

“We have a pest person coming to the store once or twice a week,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said she has apologized to customers who have seen the video and were upset by it. Others have pledged their support to the store.

“I tell people that we are taking care of the problem and most of our customers appreciate that,” Ortiz said.

Wayne Fox, division manager of environmental health at Fresno County Department of Public Health, said his office has not seen an uptick in reported cases of rodents among restaurants and other businesses.

“We really have not seen anything out of the ordinary,” he said.

Pest control technician John Painter of Dustin Pest Control in Fresno said that while rats and mice do pose a health risk, he finds the rodents in nearly every corner of the city and county.

“Most people freak out when the see a rat in a store and that’s understandable, but the reality is they are everywhere,” he said. “I have treated properties from Harlan Ranch to downtown Fresno.”

This story was originally published February 2, 2018 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Video shows a rat roaming a discount store. But should people freak out over it?."