Local and state authorities have launched an investigation after a shocking discovery of hundreds of dead rats piled up along a roadside in Anderson County.

The Norris Police Department (NPD) responded to an illegal dumping report on June 27 after a local resident spotted the grim scene near Lower Clear Creek Road and Reservoir Road. Photos from the site reveal several large, concentrated piles of rat carcasses discarded in the woods just off the roadway.

The NPD is leading the investigation with assistance from the Anderson County Animal Control and the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

“Illegal dumping of any type is not condoned by the City of Norris and does not align with our community standards,” Norris Police Chief Mike Poole said in a statement. “If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the Norris Police Department at 865-494-0880.”

The investigation has also reached the state level. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) notified the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) about the incident. However, state officials note that their hands are currently tied regarding enforcement.

According to the TDA, their Animal Health authority is strictly limited to ensuring proper carcass disposal. Because the individual or group responsible for the mass dumping has not yet been identified, the department cannot pursue regulatory enforcement at this time.

Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or a vehicle stopped in the area around June 27 to come forward.