This PA City Ranked Among Top 5 Most Rodent-Infested City In U.S.

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is a top five city in the nation for rodent infestations, according to pest control company Terminix.

Terminix released its list of the 50 most rodent-infested cities recently.

Using service data from more than 300 Terminix branches between August 2023 and July 2024, the company identified cities where rats and mice are most frequently reported.

And that data put Philadelphia at No. 4 on the list.

New York City came in at No. 1, followed by San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively. The rest of the top 10 are Washington DC (No 5.), Chicago (No. 6), Houston (No. 7), Boston (No. 8), Dallas (No. 9), and Atlanta (No. 10).

Pittsburgh came in at No. 20, while Harrisburg was ranked No. 36 and Wilkes-Barre at No. 39.

These cities, along with others on the list, continue to struggle with rodent populations that thrive in densely populated areas with ample food sources and shelter.

Rats and mice are more than just a nuisance; they can transmit diseases, contaminate food and damage property.

Common signs of a rodent infestation include droppings, gnawed food packaging, chewed wires and unusual noises in walls or ceilings.

"The more exposure rodents have to humans, the more comfortable they may become with exploring our environments, especially when they reach larger population sizes and are tight on resources," Emory Matts, BCE, CCFS, Technical Services Manager at Terminix, said. "Rats and mice are both prolific breeders. Under the right circumstances, a female rat can produce up to 12 pups every two months. A single pregnant mouse and her offspring could number in the hundreds in less than a year if left unchecked. This is more prevalent in environments with plenty of food, water, and harborage."

Mice can fit through an opening as small as one-quarter of an inch wide, which is about the width of a pencil.

Rats, although slightly bigger, only need an opening of about one-half of an inch to enter a facility.

These pests are also fast and sneaky.

To help home and business owners protect their properties from rodents, Terminix recommends the following preventive measures:

• Seal Entry Points — Close off cracks and gaps in walls, foundations and around doors and windows. This includes gaps around AC and other utility lines, hidden corners of eaves and under crawl spaces.
• Proper Food Storage — Keep food, including pet food and bird seed, in airtight containers and promptly clean up crumbs and spills.
• Declutter — Organize storage areas to reduce potential nesting sites.
• Regular Garbage Disposal — Use tightly sealed bins and dispose of waste regularly.