Atlanta, Boston, Seattle among cities with the most rats, Orkin pest control reports

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.

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