These Are The 'Rattiest' Cities In The U.S.

According to pest control giant Orkin's annual list of America's "Rattiest" cities, Los Angeles is ranked number two, climbing one spot year-over-year. While Chicago has held the number one spot for the ninth year in a row, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento also made the top 50 list.

Here are the top 10 'rattiest' cities:

1. CHICAGO
2. LOS ANGELES (+1)
3. NEW YORK (-1)
4. WASHINGTON, DC
5. SAN FRANCISCO
6. PHILADELPHIA
7. BALTIMORE
8. DENVER
9. DETROIT (+1)
10. CLEVELAND-AKRON (-1)

The rankings are based on the number of new rodent services that Orkin provides to deal with infestations. Rats cause property damage and carry diseases such as Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, and even Monkeypox.

Orkin estimates that rodents invade around 21 million US homes every fall and winter when the temperature cools.

To prevent rat infestation, Orkin recommends keeping food sealed and stored, decluttering and removing cardboard, maintaining the landscaping around the house, and regular rodent inspections.