These CA Cities Rank Among Nation's Most Rodent-Infested Following Ban On Rat Poisons

Amid the warming climate, urbanization and a 2024 law banning certain rat poisons, the rodent population is on the rise in California, where several Golden State cities landed on Terminx's list of rattiest cities in 2025.

Los Angeles is ranked as the rattiest city in the state and second only to New York nationwide, but the rodent problem is hitting communities up and down the state from Palm Springs to Sacramento. The Bay Area — including San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose — ranks among the top 50 rodent-infested cities in the country, according to the pest control company Terminix.

Terminix looked at data from its more than 300 branches nationwide to determine which cities most frequently used rodent control services.

New York City was the top city that used rodent control services most frequently last year, according to Terminix. Los Angeles claimed the second spot, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia and Chicago.

Washington, D.C. was nudged out of the top five this year and came in at No. 6 on Terminix's list.
Meanwhile, Palm Springs ranked No. 21. San Diego came in at No. 30, trailed by Fresno-Visalia at No. 44. Monterey-Salinas followed at No. 48.

The top 25 cities with the most rodents, according to Terminix, are:

1. New York, NY
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
4. Philadelphia, PA
5. Chicago, IL
6. Washington, DC (Hagerstown), DC
7. Houston, TX
8. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
9. Boston (Manchester), MA
10. Atlanta, GA
11. Detroit, MI
12. Baltimore, MD
13. Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA
14. Hartford & New Haven, CT
15. Tampa-St. Pete (Sarasota), FL
16. Cleveland-Akron (Canton), OH
17. Denver, CO
18. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, FL
19. Indianapolis, IN
20. Memphis, TN
21. Palm Springs, CA
22. Cincinnati, OH
23. Nashville, TN
24. Pittsburgh, PA
25. Seattle-Tacoma, WA

Rodents can be a persistent problem in cities because of access to food waste, sanitation practices and suitable habitats, according to Terminix. Cities with the most rats and mice often have high population densities, with easy access to food and mild climates.

"Nationwide, we have seen an increase in rodent pressure and populations," Chris Wible, director of technical services for Terminix, told Newsweek. "We are certainly seeing that in California as well, and legislation is a contributing factor to that by eliminating available tools to mitigate rodent populations."

The creatures can create public health concerns and cause significant property damage.

Signs of a rodent infestation include:

• Small droppings in your home, often in the back of drawers and cabinets, and on the floor along walls
• Holes or gnaw marks in food packaging
• Chewed wires or floor molding
• Urine stains in the corner of shelves, the back of drawers, or cabinets
• Nesting debris found (chewed paper, cardboard, insulation, other fibrous materials)
• Scratching or thumping in walls

To prevent mice and rats from entering your home, Terminix suggests you:

• Seal cracks and openings around doors, windows, and foundations, using durable materials.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Keep your living spaces clean, promptly removing crumbs and food residues.
• Regularly dispose of garbage in tightly sealed bins to minimize food sources.
• Organize cluttered storage areas to limit potential nesting sites.

The full list of the most rodent-infested cities is available on Terminix's website.

MORE: Golden State Is Nation's Rat Capital: This CA City Is 'Rattiest' Place In USA