A new town is claiming the unsavory title of “rattiest city,” a title long-held by Chicago, according to a study released Tuesday by Orkin pest control company.
For the last 10 years, Chicago has held the unwanted title of “America’s rattiest city,” a label the city has been trying hard to shed. The city was granted its wish when Los Angeles took over the No. 1 spot.
“In true Hollywood fashion, Los Angeles has taken center stage,” Orkin said in a statement. “With year-round warm weather, a booming culinary scene and dense neighborhoods that offer ample access to food and shelter, the City of Angels checks every box for rodent survival. From bustling commercial corridors to hidden alleyways, Los Angeles’ signature blend of glam and grit creates a perfect storm for rodent activity.”
The shift was likely influenced by weather patterns, urban infrastructure and human behavior, the pest control company said.
However, Chicago still holds the No. 2 spot — with New York City in third place and San Francisco in fourth.
Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Neighborhoods across Chicago have been working to shed the title — most recently through a new program that introduced rat birth control in the alleys of key commercial and residential areas in Wicker Park and Bucktown.
The program aims to curb the neighborhoods’ rodent population by preventing rats from reproducing by using a solid pellet, shaped like a sausage developed by Arizona-based company SenesTech.
The pellet’s active ingredient — cottonseed oil — affects fertility in both male and female rats without causing them harm, according to Bryan DiMenna, SenesTech’s vice president of sales.