ATLANTA — If you spot a rat in Atlanta, don't be shocked. That's because the city ranks as one of the rattiest in the entire nation, according to a new study.
Pest control company Orkin released its top 50 list of the most rat-infested cities in the United States, and Atlanta ranked inside the top 20.
The data was gathered by tracking new residential rodent treatments from Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024. The data helps Orkin understand how likely homeowners are to have rodent problems in different cities.
Rats are more common in areas beneath train/subway tracks or around underground pipes, where they can stay hidden and reproduce fast, according to Orkin.
“Rodents can cause a lot of structural problems for property owners,” said John Kane, the Orkin National Accounts Entomologist & Quality Manager. “They can get in around piping and even chew through walls. These tiny culprits tend to chew through wiring, which poses an increased risk of fires.”
Top 25 most rat-infested cities in the U.S.:
Chicago, Ill.
Los Angeles, Calif.
New York, N.Y.
San Francisco, Cali.
Washington, D.C.
Denver, Colo.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Detroit, Mich.
Baltimore, Md.
Cleveland, Ohio
Minneapolis, Minn.
Boston, Mass.
Hartford, Conn.
Seattle, Wash.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Atlanta, Ga.
Columbus, Ohio
San Diego, Calif.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Sacramento, Calif.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dallas, Texas
Miami, Fla.
Norfolk, Va.
Houston, Texas
To see the full list, visit Orkin's website here.
