Those who have lived, worked, or even visited the Crescent City know it can be a rodent’s delight.
It's not uncommon to see rats scurrying out and about.
What might be surprising is learning that New Orleans is not in the top 10, 15, or even 20 most “rat infested” cities in America. In fact, New Orleans ranks 40th in the list of 50.
The list was compiled by logging how many new residential rodent treatments were ordered between September 2023 and August 2024.
New Orleans is of course a port city with aging infrastructure, which doesn’t help its case when it comes to combating the pests.
Victor Contreras, Service Manager for J&J Exterminating, says, “We’re an aging city and have a lot of area for them to live in underground. They’re in port cities because they often travel on ships that come in … then will come in and find food sources.”
Contreras stresses the need to close any gaps, especially around piping that you may see around your house.
This is the most common access point for rodents to follow into your home, along with any obvious gaps in doors and windows.
New Orleans is filled with older homes, as they’re part of the city’s unique charm.
Unfortunately, according to Contreras, the older the homes, the more openings the home will have. He recommends calling a pest control expert if you notice any signs of an infestation in your home such as droppings or sounds of scurrying or scratching within the walls.