Rats, spiders and snakes are taking over some areas of the El Vista region of drainage district seven in Port Arthur due to high grass and overgrowth in area ditches. 12 News Reporter Liz McKernan explains there doesn't appear to be a quick solution in sight.

Residents in El Vista never know what might be lurking just a few feet from their yards.

"snakes, rats, and we do get big spiders" said resident Sherry Watts.

The problem is coming from the large ditch in their neighborhood, where weeds and grass have grown more than three feet tall.

"Its very frustrating because I like to come outside and play, and I've got my garden here and I don't even want to do my gardening because I'm scared of snakes" said fellow resident Edith Hart.

Hart lives next to one of the overgrown ditches in the area and has lost two pit bull puppies to snakes, and can't have her three young girls play in the yard because of the animal problem.

"The very fact that you've got snakes here and you have people - thats not a good combination" said Port Arthur city councilman John Beard with District 5 - who said a solution has been hard to come by.

When you have people that don't claim responsibility, but put it off on someone else saying its others problems - blaming other factors - they're not part of the solution and thats not right" said Beard.

Drainage district seven spokesman Doug Wright told 12 News by phone that they have over three hundred miles of ditches to maintain. He said that depending on weather they mow those areas five to eight times a year, and plan on installing concrete lining to the ditches from their budget.

"We've talked with several people - and we need to do a better job of maintaining these areas" said Beard.

"I shouldn't have to bother them every week to do something about it. They should come out here regardless - and do their job" said Hart.

Drainage district represenatives told 12 News it takes a month and a half to complete a full circle mowing of large ditches in their district.