Los Angeles even more rat-infested than New York: Pest Control Service

CHICAGO -- Los Angeles is being called the second "Rattiest City" in the U.S., according to pest control service Orkin. It ranked second only to Chicago, which took the number 1 spot for the fifth consecutive time on the company's list.

New York took third place, with San Francisco-Oakland, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia rounding out the top five Rattiest Cities.

The metro regions were ranked by the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 2018-2019.

The National Pest Management Association said 24 percent of homeowners report mice infestations specifically in winter, when the rodents seek shelter in warm areas.

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Orkin offers some tips to keep your property rat-free, including inspecting the inside and outside of your home for rodent droppings and sealing cracks, holes and other entry points.

They also recommend cleaning up any crumbs and spills immediately.