Someone notify Frank Costello, because there’s rats in our midst. Pest control company, Orkin, has recently released its ranking of the most rattiest cities in the United States, ranking Houston at the number 20 spot.
To conduct their ranking of the rattiest cities in the country, Orkin analyzed the quantity of new rodent services performed between September 2022 to August 2023. From these numbers, the company was able to observe the demand as well as the resident efforts to control their rodent issues.
Topping the list once again is Chicago, “The Best Big City in the U.S.” according to Conde Nast. As for Houston, our city took the 20 spot.
While at first glance, 20 might not seem all that bad. Though it might not give you the creeps, it’s unsettling knowing that Houston jumped 10 places since last year.
“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 in the report.
“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.”
Though it jumped 10 places on the list, Houston wasn’t the largest increase in the list. Greensboro, North Carolina, previously unranked, slid into the top 50 spot after jumping 17 places up the list.
In its report, Orkin lists the ways that homeowners can spot a rat infestation. Common signs include: droppings, gnaw marks, nests (found in secluded dark areas), rub marks along walls, and strange noises.
As for prevention methods, homeowners are encouraged to store away food, declutter, maintain their landscaping, inspect inside and outside their home, and identify possible entry points.
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