WA’s rattiest city: Ranking of cities with the most rats includes Washington locations

As temperatures drop for winter, it’s estimated that 21 million rodents will find a home to occupy through the coldest months. Among the most common infestations are rats and mice. These pests are all over the country, likely infesting homes or businesses in your own town.

National pest control company Orkin releases a report of the “rattiest” cities in the country each year. While Chicago has dominated the list for the last nine years, Washington state was mentioned in the top 20.

The rankings are based on Orkin’s analysis of new rodent treatments performed in each region between September 2022 and August 2023.

Cities with the most rats

Based on the Orkin analysis, the top 10 rattiest cities are:

1. Chicago
2. Los Angeles
3. New York
4. Washington, D.C.
5. San Francisco
6. Philadelphia
7. Baltimore
8. Denver
9. Detroit
10. Cleveland-Akron

As it turns out, the part of Washington with the most people also houses the most rats. The Evergreen State’s rattiest city is Seattle, ranking at number 12. Just before Seattle is the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

How to identify, prevent rodent infestations

The press release from Orkin also goes over common signs of a rodent infestation:

• Droppings near food storage areas
• Gnaw marks on your walls, wires, other home materials
• Rodent nests
• Trails of dirt, grease
• Strange noises from the walls or attic

It is also recommended to use handful of prevention methods to keep rats out of your house this winter:

• Store food properly
• Declutter, throw out garbage and cardboard
• Maintain your yard
• Identify entry points for the creatures
• Regularly check in and out for signs of an infestation

This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM.