2023's Most Rat-Infested City Has Been Crowned, and It's Not NYC
When it comes to rats, one city is a head (and tail) above the rest. At least according to the annual report from exterminator company Orkin.
After crunching the numbers, Chicago has been crowned the most rat-infested city in the United States for the ninth straight year. It comes out ahead of Los Angeles (Number Two) and New York City (a surprising Number Three). Washington, D.C. and San Francisco rounded out the Top Five.
According to Orkin, the study's ranking is "based on the number of new rodent services showcasing the demand and also indicates the efforts that residents and businesses of the top cities have taken to treat rodent issues."
That means some other cities might be lower on the list simply because they've accepted—rather than resigned themselves to—their rat issue.
The problem inside homes is typically most severe in the fall and winter months, as rodents attempt to find shelter from the harsh weather indoors. They're also searching for food at this time, as other naturally occurring sources tend to dry up as the weather cools down.
“Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist, in a press statement. "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.”
Check out the Top 10 below and read the full list here:
Chicago
Los Angeles
New York
Washington, D.C.
San Francisco
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Denver
Detroit
Cleveland-Akron
