
Once again, Washington, DC is ranked among the top rattiest cities in the country…
Pest control company Orkin has released its annual survey on the U.S. Cities with the biggest rat infestations and have determined (for the 6th year in a row) that Washington D.C. is one of the top 5 most rat-infested cities in the country!
Where did DC rank among the rattiest cities in the US?
Fortunately, Washington D.C.’s rat problem wasn’t the worst that Orkin came across during its survey, the District ranked as the #5 rattiest city in America this past year!
Though this may be hard to believe, it is an improvement for DC as this is the first time since Orkin’s ’18-’19 survey that DC hasn’t been ranked the #4 rattiest city in the country.
On the other hand, the nearby cities of Baltimore and Richmond both also ranked highly in this national survey, with Baltimore coming at #9 and Richmond being ranked at #37.
Which US cities had the biggest rat problems in 2024?
According to Orkin’s 2024 survey, the only cities with bigger rat problems than the capital city are (in order):
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- New York
- San Francisco
In other words, there’s no shortage of rodents running around the biggest cities across our country.
How to avoid rats
The bad news is that rats can be difficult to eliminate once they establish themselves, but the good news is that it’s relatively easy to mitigate the risk of any rats moving into your property, and fortunately, most of it is pretty easy.
Keep food waste and perishable items securely contained, which seems pretty common sense but is actually one of the leading causes of rodent infestations.
Make sure your property, whether it be an apartment, a house, or even a business, is properly disposing of unused or uneaten food.
In restaurants, the top priority should be securely storing all ingredients in locked storage like a fridge or freezer and making sure all containers are sealed with tight lids.
This practice should also extend to often overlooked food waste items, such as kitchen grease, which can build up quickly and attract unwanted furry pests.
How to know if you have rats or other rodents
If you aren’t sure if you have a rat or mouse problem you should be checking for the common signs:
- Droppings.
- Scurrying noises in the walls or ceilings.
- Rub marks on the walls or floor from grease or dirt.
- Gnaw marks on any containers, walls, wood, or wires.
- Nests made up of shredded paper, cotton, packing material, or fabric.
What to do if you have a rat or rodent problem
If you are positive that you are dealing with a rodent issue and you want to file a complaint, you should go online or call 311.
However, if you do come across an abundance of rats that need to be removed immediately or anyone has been bitten by a rat, then immediately call animal control: (202) 576-6664.