Rats! A common exclamation when something goes wrong, many people find themselves cursing actual rats that have invaded their spaces.
A new report from pest control company Orkin ranked the 50 “rattiest” cities using data from Sept. 1, 2019 to Aug. 31 of this year. Cities were ranked by the number of new rodent treatments reported during that time period.
For the sixth consecutive year, Chicago topped the list as the U.S. city with the most rats.
Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco rounded out the top five, as they have in years past.
But in the Orkin report, the company said this year has been “unprecedented” for pest control, just like many other things have been in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cities like Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Albuquerque jumped nearly 20 spots from their ranking last year, reflecting a dramatic increase in reports of new infestations in those areas. San Diego, California and Knoxville, Tennessee also saw large increases in rat presence.
“In an unprecedented year, the visibility of rodents has increased, creating concern for homeowners and business owners alike. As reported in the spring, the pandemic-driven closure of restaurants forced rodents to find new food sources. Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior. The presence of rodents became so relevant that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Rodent Control guidance on ways to keep rats and mice out of homes and businesses,” the company wrote in a statement.
Here’s the full Top 50 Rattiest Cities List by Orkin:
1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Los Angeles, California
3. New York, New York
4. Washington, D.C.
5. San Francisco, California
6. Detroit, Michigan
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Baltimore, Maryland
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Minneapolis, Minnesota
11. Cleveland, Ohio
12. Seattle, Washington
13. Boston, Massachusetts
14. Atlanta, Georgia
15. Indianapolis, Indiana
16. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
17. Houston, Texas
18. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
19. San Diego, California
20. Miami, Florida
21. New Orleans, Louisiana
22. Cincinnati, Ohio
23. Portland, Oregon
24. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
25. Norfolk, Virginia
26. Raleigh, North Carolina
27. Hartford, Connecticut
28. Columbus, Ohio
29. Grand Rapids, Michigan
30. Kansas City, Missouri
31. Charlotte, North Carolina
32. Phoenix, Arizona
33. Richmond, Virginia
34. Nashville, Tennessee
35. Greenville, South Carolina
36. Sacramento, California
37. St. Louis, Missouri
38. Albany, New York
39. Champaign, Illinois
40. Green Bay, Wisconsin
41. Tampa, Florida
42. Flint, Michigan
43. Buffalo, New York
44. Syracuse, New York
45. Knoxville, Tennessee
46. Orlando, Florida
47. Burlington, Virginia
48. Albuquerque, New Mexico
49. Dayton, Ohio
50. West Palm Beach, Florida
According to Orkin, as winter approaches, colder weather will drive rodents into homes and businesses as they seek warm shelter, food and water.
The company offered tips to prevent infestations. Read more here.
Cox Media Group
