Ever walked down a city street and spotted something scurrying in the shadows? It happens more than we’d like to admit, especially in big cities. But some places have it worse than others. For the past decade, one American city has topped the charts for its unwanted furry residents. If you’re planning your next vacation, you might want to think twice about Chicago – it’s been crowned America’s “rattiest” city for ten straight years, according to pest control experts.
Chicago’s decade-long reign as the rattiest city
If you think New York has a rat problem, think again. Chicago has held the top spot on Orkin’s yearly list of the most rat-infested cities in America for a whole decade now. The data comes from tracking new residential rodent treatments from September 2023 to August 2024, showing that the Windy City continues to struggle with its unwanted residents.
What makes Chicago so appealing to rats? The city’s layout with numerous alleys creates perfect hideaways for rodents to nest and breed without much human interference. The older buildings throughout the city offer plenty of cracks, holes, and spaces for rats to slip through and make themselves at home. Plus, with millions of residents and tourists dropping food scraps and filling trash cans, there’s never a shortage of dinner options for these creatures.
Visitors often report unsettling encounters with rodents while exploring Chicago’s otherwise beautiful downtown areas. Even some of the city’s most popular tourist spots aren’t immune to the problem. Imagine trying to enjoy deep dish pizza at an outdoor café when a rat darts across the sidewalk nearby – not exactly the vacation memory most people are hoping to create.
The winter months might seem like they would offer some relief from the problem, but Chicago’s rats have adapted to the harsh conditions. They simply move indoors, seeking warmth in buildings and underground spaces like the extensive subway system. This means that unlike some pest problems that are seasonal, Chicago’s rat situation is a year-round issue that visitors might encounter regardless of when they plan their trip.
The runners-up: Los Angeles and New York’s pest problems
While Chicago takes the crown, Los Angeles and New York aren’t far behind. These cities have consistently ranked in the top three most rat-infested places since 2017. Anyone hoping to avoid pests by skipping Chicago and heading to these cultural hubs instead might be disappointed. The rodent problem in Los Angeles has grown worse in recent years, with mild winters allowing rat populations to thrive year-round.
New York City’s rat problem is legendary, inspiring countless memes and viral videos of pizza-carrying rodents. Estimates of the rat population in New York range wildly from 2 million to a shocking 28 million, depending on who you ask. The city’s pest control efforts have included everything from specialized trash cans to hiring dedicated “rat czars” tasked with bringing the population under control.
Both cities share certain characteristics that make them attractive to rats. The density of restaurants means there’s always food waste available. The complex underground infrastructure of pipes, subways, and utility tunnels provides perfect protected pathways for rats to travel unseen. Meanwhile, the sheer number of people means more trash, more food scraps, and more opportunities for rats to find sustenance.
How rats damage property and create problems
The rat problem in Chicago and other major cities goes beyond just being unpleasant to look at. These rodents cause serious structural damage to buildings and infrastructure. Rats have powerful teeth that never stop growing, forcing them to constantly gnaw on objects to keep their teeth at a manageable length. Unfortunately, they don’t discriminate between wood, plastic, soft metals, and even electrical wiring when choosing what to chew through.
This constant chewing creates serious problems for homeowners and businesses alike. When rats chew through electrical wiring, they create fire hazards that have been linked to numerous building fires each year. They damage insulation, leading to increased energy costs, and can even chew through pipes, resulting in water damage and expensive repairs. For historic buildings, which many tourists come to see, rats can cause irreparable damage to structures that have stood for generations.
The damage extends to infrastructure as well. Underground, rats tunnel through soil, potentially weakening foundations and creating instability in streets and sidewalks. They’ve been known to damage telecommunications cables, causing service outages. Even car owners aren’t safe – rats sometimes find their way into parked vehicles, where they chew on wiring and hoses, leading to costly repairs and dangerous driving conditions.
Other highly infested cities across America
While Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles top the rat charts, other major cities face their own pest challenges. Houston topped one list as the most pest-infested city overall, dealing with a perfect storm of cockroaches, rats, mosquitoes, bedbugs, and termites. The warm, humid climate creates ideal breeding conditions for multiple pest species year-round.
Philadelphia has earned the unfortunate distinction of being called the “rattiest” city in America in some surveys, with 18% of households reporting rat sightings. The city’s many old row houses, some dating back centuries, provide perfect environments for rodents to establish colonies and move between buildings unseen.
Washington D.C. faces dual pest challenges, ranking high for both rodent and bedbug infestations. The nation’s capital ranked second-worst for bedbugs in one survey, attributed partly to the constant influx of international travelers who may unknowingly bring these pests with them. The city’s mild climate, old buildings, and extensive public transportation system create favorable conditions for pests to spread.
Atlanta faces challenges with mosquitoes in particular. The city’s nickname, “The City in a Forest,” highlights its numerous trees and parks, which create humid microclimates perfect for mosquito breeding. With around 45 different mosquito species in the area, some capable of transmitting diseases, outdoor activities can become uncomfortable quickly.
Signs of rat infestations tourists should watch for
When visiting cities with known rodent problems, knowing what to look for can help you avoid the worst areas or accommodations. The most obvious sign is actually seeing rats, which tend to be most active at dawn, dusk, and during the night. If you’re walking around Chicago, New York, or other rat-heavy cities during evening hours, pay attention to movement along building edges, near trash cans, or in park areas.
Beyond actual sightings, look for droppings, which resemble dark grains of rice, particularly in corners or along walls in public spaces. Gnaw marks on wood, plastic, or even concrete can indicate rodent activity, as can greasy smudge marks along baseboards or walls where rats frequently travel. These smudge marks come from oils in rat fur and can appear as dark streaks at their typical running height.
When checking into hotels or rental properties, don’t be shy about looking for signs of rodents. Check behind furniture, along baseboards, and in cabinet corners for droppings or gnaw marks. A musty, ammonia-like smell can indicate a nearby nest, particularly in enclosed spaces like closets or under sinks. Also listen for scratching or scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings, especially at night.
Bedbug problems in major tourist destinations
While rats might be the most visible urban pest, bedbugs present an equally troubling problem for travelers – and one that you might unwittingly bring home with you. Several major tourist destinations rank high for bedbug infestations, with Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago all appearing near the top of various bedbug rankings. These tiny bloodsucking pests have nothing to do with cleanliness and can be found even in upscale accommodations.
New York City has battled significant bedbug problems in recent years, affecting hotels across all price ranges. The density of accommodations and constant flow of international travelers creates perfect conditions for these pests to spread. Before booking any accommodation in the city, smart travelers check specialized bedbug registries online, where previous guests report infestations.
Boston consistently ranks among the most bedbug-infested cities as well, with experts pointing to furniture recycling as a major contributor. The city’s large student population often passes down furniture from one apartment to the next, unknowingly spreading bedbugs in the process. For visitors, this means bedbugs might be present even in well-maintained rental properties or smaller boutique hotels.
Why older cities have worse pest problems
Cities with long histories tend to have the worst pest problems, and it’s not just because they’ve had more time to accumulate unwanted residents. Older urban areas share several characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable to infestations. The aging infrastructure in places like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston creates countless entry points and harborage areas for pests that newer developments simply don’t have.
Older buildings often have more cracks, gaps, and spaces where walls meet foundations or around utility penetrations. These openings, some barely visible to the human eye, provide perfect entry points for rodents and insects. Once inside, the hollow walls, crawl spaces, and unused pipes characteristic of older construction offer protected pathways and nesting sites.
The materials used in older buildings also play a role. Wood, plaster, and certain types of insulation are more attractive to pests than modern construction materials. Aging wooden structural elements provide food for termites and nesting material for rats, while deteriorating mortar between bricks creates perfect passages for rodents to travel between buildings.
While Chicago maintains its unfortunate title as America’s rattiest city for the tenth straight year, it’s clear that pest problems affect urban areas nationwide. From the cockroach challenges of Houston to the bedbug issues in Washington D.C., travelers face different pest concerns depending on their destination. Understanding these regional differences and taking simple precautions can help ensure your memories include the sights and experiences you came for, rather than unwelcome encounters with the local pest population.
