'Playground for rats': Chicago crowned 'rattiest city' in America for 10th consecutive year
By Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY,
4 days ago
For the 10th consecutive year, a popular pest control company has crowned Chicago the " rattiest city ."
Orkin, an American pest control company founded in 1901, announced the "honor" on Monday.
"The streets of Chicago are a playground for rats. They chew constantly to explore new resources, contaminate food, and damage property,” John Kane, Orkin's national accounts entomologist and quality manager, said in a news release. “If we don't act, they’ll keep growing in numbers, causing bigger problems."
The Windy City beat out Los Angeles (second place) and New York (third), according to Orkin. All three cities have faced "consistent rodent problems," and all have ranked in the top three since 2017, the company said.
As colder weather approaches, Orkin warns rodents will search to find warm places to take shelter.
Pictured is a rat peeping through a hole shaped like the United States of America. Courtesy of Orkin
Mimi Simon, spokesperson for Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation, is skeptical about the city's ranking, telling USA TODAY that "there's just no way that Orkin can measure or rank a rat infestation."
"What we basically see is that it's a form of advertising highlighting where they have the most customers," Simon said. "It's based on where they're marketed and where their customers are."
With rats reproducing so quickly and being hidden, there is no way to quantify how many rats are in a city, according to Simon.
"How can (Orkin) say anyone is the 'rattiest city?" Simon said.
In a statement to USA TODAY, the Department of Streets and Sanitation said it is "dedicated to keeping Chicago clean and healthy, and we continue to proactively address rodent abatement as a free service to residents through the Bureau of Rodent Control."
Chicago budgeted $14.8 million to reduce rodents in 2024
Chicago budgeted $14.8 million for its Bureau of Rodent Control, which "eliminates rodents, educates residents on how to reduce the risk of rodents on their property, and removes dead animals," according to city documents obtained by USA TODAY.
The documents show that Chicago's 2024 rat "mitigation and abatement" budget is $1.5 million more than the amount allocated in 2023.
It is unclear how much Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson will spend to prevent the spread of rats next year; the city's 2025 budget forecast does not mention rodent abatement.
What species of rat is invading Chicago?
The species of rat predominately found in Chicago is the Norway rat, according to the rodent control bureau . The Norway rat originated in Asia centuries ago and has an average lifespan of six to 12 months, the bureau added.
"Norway rats prefer to live in burrows in the ground," according to the bureau. "They are excellent climbers and swimmers and most active at night. They have very hard teeth and can chew through wood and plaster or any other material that is softer than their teeth. They can crawl through holes the size of a quarter, tread water for three days and land unharmed after a five-story fall."
Female Norway rats, even at the age of 2 to 3 months, can produce four to seven litters a year, with each litter containing eight to 12 babies, the bureau said. Female rodents can become impregnated within 48 hours after giving birth, and the number, size and survivability of their litters depend on the amount of food and shelter available to them.
Norway rats prefer fresh food but will eat a variety of things, including pet food, dog feces, garbage, plants and one another if meals are scarce, the bureau says.
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