Los Angeles: Crowned America's Rattiest City, Again? Oh, the Utter Horror!

Well, here we are again. Another year, another rather… unsavory distinction for our beloved Los Angeles. For the third consecutive year, in a frankly stunning display of persistence, our sprawling metropolis has been unceremoniously dubbed the 'Rattiest City' in the United States by none other than Orkin, the renowned pest control gurus. It’s a title, you could say, that absolutely no one was clamoring for.

Now, how exactly do they arrive at such a dubious honor? Orkin's methodology, in truth, is quite straightforward: they tally up the sheer volume of new rodent treatments – both residential and commercial – that their teams carried out across the nation. And based on data collected from September 1, 2022, through August 31, 2023, Los Angeles, it seems, just couldn't be beat. For better or worse, we are, without question, a veritable hotspot for our furry, four-legged friends.

But this isn't just about a city earning a somewhat embarrassing nickname; not at all. Rats, you see, are more than just a nuisance. They're a genuine public health concern, little vectors of disease carrying everything from Hantavirus and Salmonella to Leptospirosis. And let's not forget the sheer destruction they can wreak on property – gnawing through wires, contaminating food, burrowing into structures. Honestly, they’re relentless, these critters, and incredibly adept at finding their way into our lives.

And yet, as the weather begins to cool – though 'cool' is, of course, a relative term in Southern California – the problem only seems to intensify. Rodents, with their instinctual drive, begin searching for those three critical things: food, water, and, crucially, shelter from the elements. Our homes, businesses, and even our outdoor spaces become prime real estate for their unwelcome migrations. It's a tale as old as time, really, but one we'd all prefer to write a different ending to.

So, what's a person to do when faced with such a pervasive, persistent problem? Well, Benjamin Hottel, an Orkin entomologist, offers some rather sensible advice. It's about being proactive, you know? Start with sealing up those tiny cracks and holes around your home – anything larger than a dime is an open invitation, practically a welcome mat, for a rodent. Keep your food stored securely in sealed containers, because crumbs and spills? They're practically a gourmet meal to a hungry rat. And those trash bins, please, make sure they're tightly sealed.

Beyond the immediate perimeter of your home, remember to trim back any shrubbery or landscaping that’s too close to the house. Overgrown bushes can provide perfect cover, little highways straight to your foundations. It's a battle, yes, but it’s one we absolutely can, and must, fight. After all, nobody wants their home to be part of the nation’s top 'rattiest' real estate, do they?