Terminix Reveals Most Rodent-Infested Cities in America

Los Angeles claims the top spot as the city with the most rodent issues according to data from pest control industry leader

As autumn has officially begun and the weather begins to cool, Terminix Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TMX), a leading provider of essential pest, termite and rodent control services for residential and commercial customers, today released a list of the top 50 most rodent-infested cities in America.

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Terminix reveals the most rodent-infested cities in America. Did your city make the list? (Photo: Business Wire)

Terminix released the list in advance of Rodent Awareness Week, as designated by the National Pest Management Association, which runs from October 17–23, 2021. The week aims to raise awareness about rodents by promoting public knowledge of the pests and the dangers they present to home and health.

The City of Angels came in at number one, followed by New York City at number two, Philadelphia at number three, San Francisco at number four and Dallas-Ft. Worth at number five. The state of Florida had the most cities on the list with six cities, followed by California with five cities.

"As the seasons change and lower temperatures are just around the corner, rats and mice will be looking for warm, safe places to live, including our homes," says Dan Baldwin, director of technical and regulatory services at Terminix. "As pest control experts and industry leaders, Terminix knows how to handle rodent infestations. Our teams understand the biology and behavior of these pests, which can damage homes and potentially spread germs that cause diseases."

Terminix based the rankings on the number of requests received for help with rats and/or mice from each city over the past year.* The top 50 cities for rodent infestations in the United States are:

1. Los Angeles, Calif.

2. New York, N.Y.

3. Philadelphia, Pa.

4. San Francisco, Calif.

5. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

6. Chicago, Ill.

7. Washington, D.C.

8. Houston, Texas

9. Atlanta, Ga.

10. Boston, Mass.

11. Detroit, Mich.

12. Baltimore, Md.

13. Cleveland, Ohio

14. Tampa, Fla.

15. Orlando, Fla.

16. Memphis, Tenn.

17. Seattle, Wash.

18. Sacramento, Calif.

19. Cincinnati, Ohio

20. Denver, Colo.

21. Hartford, Conn.

22. Columbus, Ohio

23. Miami, Fla.

24. Pittsburgh, Pa.

25. Indianapolis, Ind.

26. San Diego, Calif.

27. Minneapolis, Minn.

28. Little Rock, Ark.

29. Phoenix, Ariz.

30. San Antonio, Texas

31. West Palm Beach, Fla.

32. St. Louis, Mo.

33. Nashville, Tenn.

34. Birmingham, Ala.

35. Honolulu, Hawaii

36. Austin, Texas

37. Louisville, Ky.

38. Mobile, Ala.

39. Albany, N.Y.

40. Milwaukee, Wis.

41. Fresno, Calif.

42. Providence, R.I.

43. Portland, Ore.

44. Jacksonville, Fla.

45. Kansas City, Mo.

46. Oklahoma City, Okla.

47. Shreveport, La.

48. Harrisburg, Pa.

49. Chattanooga, Tenn.

50. Ft. Myers, Fla.

These unwelcome guests can cause extensive damage to homes. Mice can fit through an opening as small as one-quarter of an inch wide, which is about the width of a pencil. Once inside the home, rodents can:

• Gnaw on and scratch household items, including furniture, books, clothing, carpets and items that hold significant sentimental value.
• Scavenge food and gnaw through food storage containers in cabinets and pantry areas.
• Eat from pet bowls and chew through pet food boxes and bags.
• Gnaw on electrical wiring, which can cause appliance failures or spark a fire.
• Chew through insulation in walls and attics.
• Make nests in walls, attics and air ducts, creating unpleasant odors that can fill adjacent rooms.

But rats and mice can be much more than a mere nuisance. More importantly, these pests can also pose a serious threat to public health. With their urine and droppings, rodents can contaminate food items, linens, clothing and other areas of the home. If left untreated, a rodent infestation can lead to the spread of germs that cause diseases like hantavirus, rat bite fever and salmonellosis, among others.

Although rats and mice sometimes live in the home undetected, there are some tell-tale signs homeowners can look out for. Common signs of a rodent infestation include:

• Small droppings in the home, including the back of drawers and cabinets, and on the floor along walls
• Holes or gnaw marks in food packaging
• Chewed wires or materials
• Urine stains on shelves and in the back of drawers and cabinets
• Footprints and tail-drags in dust or any other powder
• Nesting materials (paper, cardboard, insulation, other fibrous materials)
• Scratching or thumping in walls

For more information, visit Terminix.com or call 1-800-Terminix.

*This ranking was created by compiling rodent-specific data from Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the most leads received between September 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021.

About Terminix

Terminix Global Holdings (NYSE: TMX) is a leading provider of residential and commercial pest control. The company provides pest management services and protection against termites, mosquitoes, rodents and other pests. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., with more than 11,400 teammates and 2.9 million customers in 24 countries and territories, the company visits more than 50,000 homes and businesses every day. To learn more about Terminix, visit Terminix.com or LinkedIn.com/company/terminix.

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