DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – There are some lists that you just don’t want to be on and ranking as a city with a lot of rats is definitely one of those lists. Unfortunately, according to pest control company, Orkin, three Michigan cities are in the top 50 of their “rattiest cities” list.

Detroit comes in at 9th, Grand Rapids is 31st and Flint is 40th. Chicago, for the eighth year in a row, takes the #1 spot.

MORE NEWS: Lansing Schools Still Administering COVID Tests for Students, Staff

The good news is that Detroit moved down one spot and Flint moved down six spots from where they ranked in 2021. Grand Rapids moved up one spot.

Orkin developed the rankings by looking at the number of rodent treatments performed from September 1st, 2021 through August 31st, 2022. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. They’ve been doing the rankings since 2014.

Orkin reports that each fall, “mice and other rodents invade an estimated 21 million homes in the United States” and typically enter our homes between October and February, looking for food, water and shelter from the cold weather. With the influx of outside dining shelters created during the pandemic, rats are in ratty heaven finding new places to dine, mate and set up shop.

Not good for us is the fact that mice and rats spread dangerous diseases like Salmonella and the Hantavirus in addition to causing structural damage because of their burrowing skills and strong jaws which are used to chew electrical wires, gas lines and water pipes.

Orkin gives some tips on what to look for in order to spot an issue before it becomes a big problem. They suggest that homeowners keep on the lookout for droppings in places where food is stored like under sinks, kitchen cabinets and pantries and looking along baseboards.

Homeowners should also look for gnaw marks, nests, rub marks (dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards) and strange noises. You should also keep an eye on unusual activity from your pets as well because they are often on the front lines detecting a mouse or rat in your house.

MORE NEWS: Power Struggle: Michigan Continues to Muzzle Local Voices on Wind and Solar Projects

Michigan News Source reached out to Orkin about what homeowners can do to keep mice and rats at bay and how their company can assist. Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist said, “Rodents are not only a hazard to human health, but they can also compromise the integrity of an infested structure through continuous gnawing.

Orkin Pros are trained to address rodent infestations as well as implement integrated solutions to help prevent future issues. For typical rodent issues, Orkin uses a combination of increased sanitation, exclusion and non-pesticide options (like traps).

Prevention is always the best place to start, and it should be done early in order to help maintain a rodent-free home. They multiply quickly, making infestations extremely difficult to remove. The areas below are three main offenders when it comes to preventing rodents.

Food Storage
Crumbs and garbage are popular sources of infestation, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination. Fruits and vegetables should also be stored properly, and their resulting waste should never be left in sinks or on counters.

Cardboard
Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests.

Seal Openings
Rodents are capable of squeezing through spaces that appear to be much too small for them. All such holes should be sealed to prevent entry and reentry of rodents. As temperatures drop in Michigan ahead of winter, rodents will be looking for warmth, food and shelter. Now is the time to check and seal openings!’’

Hottel continued, “With these tips and a specialized, integrated approach to rodent and pest control, Orkin can help protect your home with a plan suited to your specific needs.”

In addition to those things listed above, homeowners can take other proactive steps to help prevent infestation including decluttering their house and maintaining the landscaping (getting rid of tall grass and woodpiles).

The focus here is to be prepared because some of the mightiest adversaries come in small packages.

As Edmund Burke famously said, “By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a
nation.”