What to Know
- New York has been named the second rattiest city in America
- The most rat-infested city, according to Orkin, is Chicago
- The Midwest is over-represented on the Top Rattiest Cities list
New York has been bestowed with a dubious honor: it's the second most rat-infested city in the United States.
Pest control company Orkin released its annual list of Top 50 Rattiest Cities, finding New York the second "rattiest" city in the country, second only to Chicago.
The list was compiled from a survey assessing the number of commercial and residential rodent treatments the company performed across the country over the last year.
New Yorkers may not be surprised to top the list. NBC 4 New York earlier reported that complaints about rats in the city are coming in at record numbers.
In 2015, an unprecedented 29,314 rodent complaints were logged with 311, the city says, and so far this year complaints are well on track to shatter that record.
Over in Chicago, the city would be celebrating its second year of topping the list, after previously taking the title in 2014.
Local
Washington, D.C., came in at third rattiest, and Philadelphia wasn't far behind in seventh place.
The Midwest was over-represented on the Top 50 Rattiest Cities, taking 13 of the top spots.
Orkin Midwest technical director John Kane said fall marked the start of rodent season, as rodents seek out warmth and shelter.
“Just like we put on a warm coat and turn up the heat indoors, rodents look for a warm place to nest."
Check out the top 20 rattiest cities below:
1. Chicago
2. New York
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Los Angeles
5. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
6. Baltimore
7. Philadelphia
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul
9. Detroit
10. Denver
11. Seattle-Tacoma
12. Boston
13. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
14. Dallas-Ft. Worth
15. Cleveland
16. Atlanta
17. Hartford & New Haven, Conn.
18. Pittsburgh
19. Indianapolis
20. Portland, Ore.
