Chicago was recently ranked first on a new list, however, this ranking is less desired than the others. For the ninth year in a row, Chicago topped Orkin’s annual “Top 50 Rattiest Cities List,” according to a news release from the Pest Control firm.
According to the study, localities were evaluated based on the number of new rodent treatments done between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, with both residential and commercial treatments included, according to Orkin.
According to the statement, Los Angeles was placed second, and New York was ranked third. The following cities ranked in the top ten on Orkin’s list of 50:
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco
- Philadelphia
- Baltimore
- Denver
- Detroit
- Cleveland-Akron
The list, which was posted on Monday, comes as millions of mice and rats, according to Orkin, began to attack homes in search of food, water, and refuge ahead of the winter. According to the statement, between October and February, an estimated 21 million mice, rats, and other rodents enter homes.
“Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards,” said Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel, said in the release. “Rats are capable of squeezing into spaces through holes as small as a quarter, which makes it especially important to seal cracks from the outside.”