Hartford Is CT's 'Rattiest' City: Orkin

HARTFORD, CT — If you "smell a rat" in Hartford, you might, literally, be smelling a rat.

That's because Orkin, the well-known pest control company, recently unveiled its top 50 "rattiest cities" in the U.S. and, unfortunately, Hartford made the list.

In fact, Hartford was the only Connecticut city mentioned, coming in at 17 in the U.S. and the second-worst in New England.

Boston, Mass., was ranked 13th in the country, the worst rat city in New England, according to Orkin.

"Cities on the Rattiest Cities List are based on the number of new rodent services showcasing the demand and also indicates the efforts that residents and businesses of the top cities have taken to treat rodent issues," wrote Orkin in a statement.

Orkin released the survey in time for the fall season, when mice/rats typically will enter buildings between October and February looking for food, water and warm shelter.

“Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. “Rats are capable of squeezing into spaces through holes as small as a quarter, which makes it especially important to seal cracks from the outside.”

Orkin said rodents can cause health issues and also severe structural damage with their strong jaws and burrowing skills.

Oh, and the worst city in the U.S. when it comes to rats? Chicago, Ill.

For the full top 50 "rattiest cities" on the Orkin list, click on this link.