Ranking the Cities with the Largest Rat Problem

Alicia Lu passes along news of a ranking produced by the pest control company Orkin of the country's "rattiest cities." Orkin ranked cities—each "a major urban area that provides ideal conditions for rats and mice to thrive"—based on the number of treatments the company had to perform last year.

This is the kind of data Orkin has that the American Community Survey doesn't. Orkin Technical Services Director Ron Harrison, Ph.D explains in an Orkin press release: "It's important to remember that this list is based solely on the number of treatments Orkin performed last year. While your city may not be ranked high on the list, that does not mean you should be any less vigilant."

As for why cities and rats are such a match, Harrison adds: "Commensal rodents depend on humans and their resources to survive, so unless residents and city officials take proactive steps to prevent rodents, infestations can easily get out of hand."

If you're grossed out right now, maybe it's time to listen to Pearl Jam's song about the softer side of the rodents, "Rats," performed in New York, a city notorious for rats but that only made it to number four(!) on the list.