New Haven and Hartford are tied for 17th on the Atlanta-based pest control expert Orkin’s list of the Top 50 Rattiest Cities, the firm announced Monday.
Chicago snagged the top spot, followed by New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Midwest region had the greatest number of cities on the list, with 13 in the top 50.
Cities are ranked by the number of rodent treatments the company performed from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30 of this year. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments, the company said.
Rodents are a prevalent problem across the country, with a recent survey commissioned by Orkin showing 40 percent of people surveyed have had rodents present in their home at some point.
Fall marks the start of rodent season, since the pests seek out sustenance and shelter to survive the winter. Rodents are not only a property damage threat, but can contaminate food and pose health threats, the company notes.
