America's 10 rattiest cities revealed — and the No. 1 spot may surprise you
THE TAKEAWAY
Los Angeles has once again been named the rattiest city in the U.S., topping Orkin’s annual ranking of the country’s most rodent-infested metropolitan areas.
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The pest control company’s latest list placed Los Angeles at No. 1, followed by Chicago at No. 2, New York City at No. 3 and San Francisco at No. 4. Washington, D.C., rounded out the top five, climbing one spot from last year.
Detroit ranked No. 6, climbing one spot from last year, followed by Cleveland at No. 7, which moved up four places. Denver came in at No. 8, rising two spots, while Philadelphia ranked No. 9, dropping one position. Baltimore rounded out the top 10 at No. 10, climbing two spots from last year's ranking.
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According to Orkin, Los Angeles’ year-round mild weather, densely populated neighborhoods and abundant access to food, water and shelter create ideal conditions for rats and mice to thrive.
From residential neighborhoods to busy commercial corridors, the same features that attract millions of people to the city can also provide rodents with plenty of opportunities to find food and protected places to nest.
California once again had the most cities represented among the top 50, with four metropolitan areas making the list. In addition to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Sacramento ranked No. 21 and San Diego came in at No. 33.
As well, Florida, and Texas each had three cities represented in this year's ranking.
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Several cities also saw notable changes in their positions. Albuquerque, NM, made the biggest jump, climbing 12 spots to No. 31. Nashville rose 10 places to No. 30, while Albany, NY, also climbed 10 spots to No. 39.
On the other hand, Hartford, CT, experienced the steepest decline, dropping 12 positions to No. 17. Greenville, SC, fell 10 spots to No. 40.
"There’s no single type of city or climate that’s immune to rodent pressure," Dr. Shannon Sked, national technical director at Orkin, said. "Rats and mice are highly adaptable and can thrive in communities across the country wherever they can find food, water and shelter."
As temperatures begin to drop, rodents may increasingly look indoors for warmth, food and protected places to nest. Homes and other buildings can provide ideal shelter, making fall an important time for homeowners to watch for signs of rodent activity and seal potential entry points.
Orkin recommends prioritizing prevention and early detection, including monitoring for rodent activity, maintaining proper sanitation and blocking potential entry points around buildings.
"That’s why prevention and early detection are important for homeowners, regardless of where they live," Dr. Sked said. "Prevention, including robust monitoring, sound facilities exclusion and sanitation, is relied on as the key element in sound rodent management programs."
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