League Of Rattiest Cities Finds LA's Rodents Tougher Than NYC's

NEW YORK, NY – The city's rats are losing their crown. NYC has slipped into third place in a league of the nation's rattiest metropolises, beaten out of its long-held second place by Los Angeles.

The listing, put together by pest control company Orkin, placed Chicago at the top for the fourth year in a row.

The company found rats chewing up more than the Big Apple's subways. The rankings are based on the number of homes and businesses Orkin's exterminators treat in a year.

This is the fourth year the 50 rattiest cities have been ranked. New York started in fourth place, but has taken second the past two years.

LA has been creeping up the list, from fourth place in 2016 to third last year and second for 2018.

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Here are the 10 "Rattiest Cities" in the U.S. for 2018, according to Orkin:

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

See the full list of "rattiest cities" here.

As the weather turns cold, rodents seek shelter in warm areas with readily-available food and water. The National Pest Management Association estimates rodents enter an estimated 21 million homes in the U.S. each winter.

"Rodents don't need much of an invitation to enter your home," said Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist, in a news release.

"A rat can squeeze through an opening as small as a quarter, while a mouse can wedge its way into a hole smaller than a dime."

Rats and mice will chew through electrical wires, gas lines and support beams in buildings. It's estimated 25 percent of unexplained fires start from rodent chewing.

"Aside from causing structural damage, rodents can carry hundreds of pathogens that can transmit various diseases and dangerous parasites. Additionally, they constantly leave behind droplets of urine as they travel each day. These droppings can contribute to asthma and allergic reactions, especially in children," Hartzer said.

Orkin recommends these tips to help prevent rats and mice in your home:

• Inspect both inside and outside the home for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls.
• Look for possible entry points outside the home, seal all cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch and install weather strips at the bottom of exterior doors.
• Trim overgrown branches, plants and bushes to avoid giving rodents "jumping off" point.
• Keep your home clean, inside and out. Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen to avoid leaving food residue or sugary substances that can attract rodents. Store all food (including pet food) in tightly-sealed containers like plastic bins, and never leave food or dishes sitting out overnight.

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