BALTIMORE,
MD – Charm City is among America's "Rattiest
Cities," according to a new report from pest control company Orkin.
Baltimore comes in at No. 8.
This
the third year that Orkin has compiled the rankings, which are based on the
number of rodent treatments the company performed from Sept. 15, 2016 to Sept.
15, 2017. It includes residential and commercial treatments.
Baltimore dropped two slots from
last year, when it was ranked sixth. The city has undertaken several rat
control measures recently, including the issuance of municipal garbage cans
to contain waste.
Here
are the 10 "Rattiest Cities" in the U.S., according to Orkin:
1.
Chicago
2.
New York
3.
Los Angeles
4.
San Francisco – Oakland
5.
Washington, DC
6.
Philadelphia
7.
Detriot
8.
Baltimore
9.
Seattle - Tacoma
10. Dallas - Fort Worth
Tips For Rat Control
Fall
is the start of rodent season, according to Orkin. As the weather gets colder,
rats and mice seek out food, water and shelter to survive the winter.
According
to the National Pest Management Association, more than 20 million rodents
invade homes each year.
"Rats
and mice begin looking for warmer, more insulated places to get through the
winter, and these too often happen to be our homes or businesses," said
John Kane, entomologist and technical director of Orkin's Midwest Region.
"Rodents like to chew on wood and electrical wires, increasing the fire
danger behind your walls and potentially damage to your home."
Rodents
can contaminate food and transmit pathogens through urine, feces and bites that
affect health. Kane added it's not hard for rodents to get inside a home or
business. Rats can enter through a hole the diameter of a quarter, while mice
can enter through a hole the diameter of a dime.
Orkin
provided these tips to help people avoid the health and safety risks because of
rat and mice infestations:
·
Inspect both inside and outside the
home for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls.
The sooner they're detected, the easier the problem is to manage.
·
Look for possible entry points
outside the home and seal cracks and holes if any are found. It'll be hidden,
dark, probably warm, and difficult to reach!
·
Install weather strips around
entryways, especially under doors, to help block rodents from sneaking inside.
·
Store food properly by keeping it
sealed tightly in rodent-proof containers like plastic bins or metal canisters.
·
Clean up crumbs and spills as soon
as they happen to avoid leaving food residue or sugary substances that can
attract rodents.
·
Cut back trees and bushes to at
least three feet away from homes to avoid giving rodents a "jumping
off" point to access the gutters, roof or other hidden openings.
