DETROIT – Three Michigan cities are ranked among the 50 rattiest in the United States.
Pest control company Orkin released its annual Rattiest City List and the Motor City has gone up in the rankings. Again.
Orkin ranks the list based on the number of new rodent services the company performs in that city. It factors in residential and commercial pest treatments.
It wasn’t just the Lions that have been improving over the last few years. After coming in at #10 in 2022 and #9 in 2023, Detroit is now the #8 rattiest city in the country. That’s real growth. Other Michigan cities include Grand Rapids at #27 and Flint at #42.
For the 10th consecutive year, the #1 spot has been taken by another Great Lakes city: Chicago. It‘s basically like the Boston Celtics’ winning streak in the 1960s but with significantly more rats and no basketball. It’s a heck of a dynasty.
According to the Washtenaw County Health Department, the most common species of rat in Michigan is the Norway rat, also known as the brown rat. They live in underground burrows and feed on garbage, food scraps, pet food, fruits and vegetables.
Beyond health issues, rodents can cause severe structural damage with their strong jaws and burrowing skills.
Because of the threats that rodents pose, it’s important for homeowners to know how to spot an issue in order to take a proactive approach.
A few common signs of a rodent infestation include, from Orkin:
- Droppings: Rodent droppings are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or pantries, under sinks, inside chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards and on top of wall beams
- Gnaw marks: Mice are known to bite through walls, wood and wires. The damage to wiring within walls can increase the risk for a house fire.
- Nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. Be on the lookout for shredded paper products, cotton, packing materials and other fabrics, as house mice like to build nests out of these materials.
- Rub marks: Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards as they follow a trail throughout the home between their nest and food.
- Strange noises: Scurrying in the walls or in the attic could mean a rodent family is present. Rodents are especially fond of attics as it’s an insulated area for nest building.
To help residents avoid the potential health and safety risks associated with rodents, Orkin recommends the following tips:
- Store away food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.
- Declutter. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Take advantage of your extra time at home to clean and organize crowded spaces around the house.
- Maintain your landscaping. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with homes can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home where they may find a way into the attic.
- Inspect both inside and outside your home. Keep an eye out for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better.
- Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks that are found around your home. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help keep mice out of your home.
