Pittsburgh Remains One Of Nation's Most Rat-Infested Cities: Orkin

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh metro region hasn't made inroads toward reducing its rat population in the past year, a new study by Orkin revealed.

The extermination company released its annual Top 50 Rattiest Cities list, and Pittsburgh finished 16th for the second year in a row. The rankings were determined by the number of new residential and commercial treatments performed from Sept. 1, 2021 through Aug. 31, 2022.

The 20 cities with the largest rodent problems in the past year:

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

11. Seattle

12. Minneapolis

13. Boston

14. Atlanta

15. Indianapolis

16. Pittsburgh

17. Cincinnati

18. San Diego

19. Hartford

20. Miami

Exterminator treatments almost certainly will be on the rise soon here and across the nation as the weather turns colder and rodents attempt to enter homes and businesses.

“Rodent infestations are among the top pest issues of the fall and winter seasons,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. “Not only are mice and rats a nuisance, but they are known to spread a variety of dangerous diseases, including Salmonella and Hantavirus.”

How to keep them out of your home? Orkin has several suggestions:

• Store away food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.
• Declutter. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Take advantage of your extra time at home to clean and organize crowded spaces around the house.
• Maintain your landscaping. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with homes can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home where they may find a way into the attic.
• Inspect both inside and outside your home. Keep an eye out for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better.
• Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks that are found around your home. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help keep mice out of your home.

See the entire Orkin top 50 list here.