Baltimore Still On Most Rat-Infested Cities List, But Improving

BALTIMORE, MD — Charm City has showed consistent progress in getting off America's "Rattiest Cities," the annual report from pest control company Orkin. Baltimore comes in at No. 12 on the company's 2019 rankings released.

This is the fifth year that Atlanta-based Orkin has compiled the rankings, which are based on the number of rodent treatments the company performed from Sept. 15, 2018 to Sept. 15, 2019. It includes both residential and commercial treatments.

Baltimore dropped three slots from last year, when it was ranked ninth; two years ago it was No. 8 and three years ago it was No. 6 on the Orkin list. The city has undertaken several rat control measures, including the issuance of municipal garbage cans to contain waste.

Residents in Baltimore are a bit touchy about mice after President Donald Trump in late July tweeted that city was a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess." He directed a series of tweets toward the late Baltimore Congressman Elijah Cummings and derided the city he represented.

For the fifth year in a row, Chicago was No. 1 on the list.

Here are the 10 "Rattiest Cities" in the U.S. for 2018, according to Orkin.

1. Chicago
2. Los Angeles
3. New York
4. Washington D.C.
5. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
6. Detroit
7. Cleveland-Akron
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul
9. Philadelphia
10. Atlanta

Browse the full list of "rattiest cities."

Those concerned about rat infestations should call Baltimore City at 311 or submit an online service request.

As the weather turns cold, rodents seek shelter in warm areas with easy access to food and water. The National Pest Management Association estimates that 24 percent of homeowners report mice infestations.

“Unfortunately, residential properties offer the ideal habitat for rodents because of access to food and water sources, potential entry points and hiding places,” said Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist. “A rat can squeeze through an opening as small as a quarter, while a mouse can wedge its way into a hole smaller than a dime.”

Rats and mice will chew through electrical wires, gas lines and support beams in buildings. It's estimated 25 percent of unexplained fires start from rodent chewing.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following tips to help prevent rats and mice from getting into the home:

• Inspect both inside and outside the home for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls.
• Look for possible entry points outside the home, seal all cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch and install weather strips at the bottom of exterior doors.
• Trim overgrown branches, plants and bushes to avoid giving rodents "jumping off" point.
• Keep your home clean, inside and out. Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen to avoid leaving food residue or sugary substances that can attract rodents. Store all food (including pet food) in tightly-sealed containers like plastic bins, and never leave food or dishes sitting out overnight.
• Remove potential rodent nesting sites from your property, such as leaf piles and deep mulch.
• Keep kitchen garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Turn compost piles to cover newly added food scraps.
• Stop feeding outdoor birds while you are controlling an infestation.