Baltimore's rat problem is one of the nation's worst. The city ranks sixth on Orkin's list of U.S. cities with the highest rate of rat infestations.
The pest control company based its rankings on the number of rodent treatments it performed in a year's time - from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016.
Baltimore is up three spots from 2013, when the city ranked ninth on Orkin's list of the nation's top 20 rattiest cities.
The full list for 2016 follows:
1. Chicago
2. Los Angeles
3. Washington, D.C.-Hagerstown
4. New York
5. San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
6. Seattle-Tacoma
7. Detroit
8. Cleveland-Akron-Canton
9. Baltimore
10. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
11. Dallas-Ft. Worth
12. Denver
13. Houston
14. Atlanta
15. Boston-Manchester
16. Minneapolis-St. Paul
17. Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto
18. Syracuse
19. Indianapolis
20. Charlotte
"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," said entomologist and Orkin Technical Services Director Ron Harrison. "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.”
Homeowners can prevent rat infestations by regularly inspecting the home for rodent droppings, rub marks or burrows.
Orkin also recommends storing food in sealed containers, trim overgrown plants and remove all pet bowls once animals are finished eating.
Sealing cracks and gaps around the building can help keep rodents outside. Rats are able to squeeze through a quarter-sized hole, while mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime.
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