CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago has been ranked the "Rattiest City" in the U.S., for the seventh consecutive time, according to pest control company Orkin.
Other big cities in the top five spots were Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 15, 2020 to September 15, 2021. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments, according to a press release.
The pandemic is partly responsible for the rise of rodents in big cities-causing problems for both homeowners and business owners alike. Restaurant closings forced rodents to find new food sources.
“As people resume normal activities, food availability will rise,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist.
“Rodents are experts at sniffing out food and shelter, and they’re resilient in their ways to obtain both. After a year of depleted resources, residential properties offer the ideal habitat for rodents, and once they’ve settled in, they’re capable of reproducing rapidly and in large quantities.”
Orkin recommends the following tips to help prevent rats and mice in and around the home:
- Keep food stored away and sealed
- Clear out clutter and clean and organize crowded spaces in the home
- Maintain grass and don't let it grow too tall
- Inspect inside and outside of your home looking specifically for burrows, rodent droppings, and rub marks along baseboards and walls.
- Look for possible entry points and seal any cracks and holes.
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