If you think New York City's rat problem is bad, don't head to the midwest.
Pest control company Orkin released its list of the "rattiest" cities in the U.S., and while NYC did move down the list (not a list anyone wants to even be on, mind you), another city has now captured the crown eight years in a row. That dubious distinction goes to Chicago, which has taken the top spot every year since 2015.
But that's about where the good news for the Big Apple ends, as the city stills hold a place in the top 3. As NYC did last year, the city swapped places with Los Angeles, which now holds the No. 2 spot.
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There are other familiar names that make up the top 50, including Hartford (17), Buffalo (38), Albany (42), and Syracuse (48). Albany and Syracuse had good years, dropping eight and six spots, respectively.
Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.
"Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards," said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. " Rats are capable of squeezing into spaces through holes as small as a quarter, which makes it especially important to seal cracks from the outside."
The city's mayor has made rat mitigation a key priority of his administration. Mayor Eric Adams has announced a number of trash initiatives he says will keep the rodents at bay.
Just this month, Adams said nearly all residential building owners would soon be required to containerize their trash in all five boroughs. The city estimates that 95% of its housing supply will be subject to new trash rules.
Starting next fall, buildings with nine or fewer units will be required to place all trash in secure containers. By 2026, however, the container must be official bins approved by the city.
The new trash policy comes on the heels of last month's announcement by Adams: the use of mandatory hard-lidded trash bins for all businesses. That initiative will start March 2024, and businesses could face a $50 fine if caught in violation of the rules after an initial one-month grace period.
1. CHICAGO | 26. PORTLAND, OR (-4) |
