Winter Haven Walmart Rat: Shopper Photographs Rodent In Florida Store's Meat Section (PHOTO)

In a close encounter of the furry kind, a shopper looking to buy some meat at her local Walmart found herself eye-to-eye with a large rat that was scampering along the steaks' rack.

Jessica Giles, a regular customer at the Winter Haven, Fla., store located at 7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd., told Bay News 9 that she and her mother were moving over to the meat section when she saw the rodent.

"It was shocking and I knew nobody would believe me, so I took a picture of it," Giles said.

Employees noticed the disturbance and attempted to run off the intruder, only to discover a second rat lurking nearby. Giles told the station a worker attempted to chase the rodent with a broom and a box, and when she and her mother went to check out, they saw one captured near the deli.

In a statement obtained by Bay News 9, Walmart spokesperson Kayla Whaling called the incident "unacceptable."

"We are monitoring the issue closely and actively working with our third party pest control company and Department of Agriculture to help prevent this from happening again," Whaling said.

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This is not the first time Walmart has gotten into trouble due to unresolved critter issues.

In June, The River Reporter reported a Monticello Walmart in upstate New York had failed its fifth inspection since September 2011.

According to an April New York Department of Agriculture and Markets report, the store was dealing with an apparent rodent infestation, with more than 1,000 "fresh-appearing mouse droppings are present on floor between back of snack/chip display and back of egg and juice cooler."

Similarly, a shopper at a store in McCallen, Texas recorded video of rats running up an down the walls, frightening other shoppers, according to KVEO.