The U.S. Cities With the Biggest Rat Problems, Ranked
The results are in, and Los Angeles has been named America's rattiest city. Did your city make the list for the top 10 rattiest cities in the country? Read on for the details.
Los Angeles Declared Rattiest City in the U.S.
Pest control company Orkin has released its list of rattiest cities in the U.S. Los Angeles is atop the list that no city wants to be on, followed by Chicago at number 2, New York City at number 3, San Francisco at number 4, and Washington, D.C., at number 5.
Orkin said that the year-round mild weather in Los Angeles combines with its densely populated neighborhoods to support a robust rat population. The rodents also have plenty of access to food, water, and shelter, creating a perfect storm of conditions for rats and mice to thrive. In short, the same conditions that attract humans to Los Angeles also attract rodents.
Detroit came in at number 6, inching up one spot from last year on the notorious list. Cleveland came in at number 7, moving up four spots since last year. Denver climbed two spots to land at number 8, while Philadelphia dropped one position to rank number 9. Rounding out the top 10 is Baltimore, climbing two notches since last year.
California retained its position as the state with the most cities in the top 50 of rat activity. In addition to Los Angeles and San Francisco, other metro areas in the Golden State on the list are Sacramento at number 21 and San Diego at number 33. Florida and Texas also had three cities each on this year's list.
The biggest jump from last year belonged to Albuquerque, soaring 12 spots to hit number 31. Nashville climbed 10 spots to reach number 30. Likewise, Albany, New York, climbed 10 to finish at number 39.
Several Cities Saw Steep Declines in Rat Issues
On the other side of the spectrum, Hartford, Connecticut, enjoyed the steepest decline. The metro area dropped 12 spots to land at number 17. Greenville, South Carolina, ended up at number 40 after falling 10 spots.
"There’s no single type of city or climate that’s immune to rodent pressure," said Dr. Shannon Sked, national technical director at Orkin. Dr. Sked explained that "Rats and mice are highly adaptable and can thrive in communities across the country wherever they can find food, water, and shelter."
This is the time of year when rodents tend to seek shelter and food inside. Homes and commercial properties provide warmth and potential food sources as the temperatures drop. Pest control experts advise that homeowners keep a close eye on signs of potential rodent activity. Sealing entry points is a good first step in preventing rat infestations. Maintaining proper sanitation is also good practice to block rodents.
"That’s why prevention and early detection are important for homeowners, regardless of where they live," Dr. Sked advised. "Prevention, including robust monitoring, sound facilities exclusion, and sanitation, is relied on as the key element in sound rodent management programs."
In other words, while you cannot control the environment and weather outside, there are steps that you can take to mitigate the presence of rats in your home or business.
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