PHOENIX, AZ – Phoenix is known for lots of great things: lots of sunshine, great hikes, an escape from the cold winter weather. However, one thing that Phoenix residents may not want to be known for is the overwhelming number of rats crawling through our streets and backyards. Still, that’s exactly the case, according to a new ranking published by pest control company Orkin on Friday. In fact, Phoenix was ranked 43rd on this year’s list of the top 50 “rattest” cities. If you’d like to hold back on the bragging rights, we understand, but that’s how Orkin gets on the list: Each year the company ranks metropolitan areas based on the number of new rodent treatments received from September 15 of the previous year through September 9. 15 of the current year. The ranking includes both private and commercial treatments. The company came to a conclusion: the number of rats on the city streets skyrocketed in 2020. “The pandemic-induced restaurant closings have forced rodents to find new sources of food,” Orkin said in a press release. “Without consuming any food waste, these pests have been seen conquering new territories and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior.” As life slowly returned to normal after the business closings and pandemic lockdowns ended, food and water sources for rodents were replenished. In New York City alone, the number of rodent complaints filed with the city in March 2021 rose 80 percent, Bloomberg reported. At one point, the presence of rodents became so noticeable that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued rodent control guidelines on how to keep rats and mice out of homes and businesses, Orkin said. Still, the five shabbiest cities on this year’s list haven’t changed from 2020. Chicago took the top spot for the seventh year in a row, followed by Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, DC, and San Francisco. Cleveland, which finished 10th, was in the top 10 this year. Baltimore also moved closer to the top 5, moving up two places to 6th. Check out Orkin’s full list of the seediest towns. While rats can cause significant structural damage and pose many health risks to humans, according to Orkin, there are ways to keep mice and rats out of your home: Don’t skip food: Small crumbs and trash are popular food sources, as are dry food commodities like cereals and grain. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to avoid contamination. Avoid cluttered spaces: cardboard items prove to be attractive to rodents who have a tendency to chew them up for use in nests. Use any extra time at home to clean and organize crowded rooms in the house. Don’t let landscaping run wild: Tall grass with adequate housing, such as piles of wood next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Branches in contact with houses can also provide easy access for rodents to the upper levels of your home, where they may find a way into the attic. Examine both inside and outside your home for rodent droppings, burrows, and scuff marks along baseboards and walls. The faster rodents are recognized, the better. Look for possible entry points outside your home and seal up cracks and holes if there are any. Install weather strips around entrances, especially under doors, to prevent rodents from sneaking in.
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