Illinois City Named The Rattiest In America

One Illinois city made it to the top of Orkin's Top 50 Rattiest Cities list, according to Mlive.

Orkin's list ranks metro regions by the number of both commercial and residential new rodent treatments performed from September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022. According to their data, Chicago ranks No. 1 in the top 50 rattiest cities. This is the eighth year in a row that the Windy City has topped Orkin's Rattiest Cities list. Here's the complete top 10:

1. Chicago
2. New York
3. Los Angeles
4. Washington, D.C.
5. San Francisco
6. Philadelphia
7. Baltimore
8. Cleveland
9. Detroit
10. Denver

“Not only are mice and rats a nuisance, but they are known to spread a variety of dangerous diseases, including Salmonella and Hantavirus,” Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist, said.

As a top pest for fall and winter, rats generally enter homes between October and February in search of food, water and warmth, according to Orkin. Signs of a rodent infestation include droppings, gnaw marks on walls and wire, nests, grease and dirt marks along walls and floorboards and scurrying noises.

According to Orkin, homeowners should store away food, declutter, maintain their landscaping, inspect both inside and outside their home, and look for possible entry points in order to try and prevent an infestation.