Chicago no longer 'America's rattiest city'

Chicago is no longer the top dog when it comes to rat infestations, losing its crown to Los Angeles. A new study by Orkin has revealed that the City of Angels has taken the top spot as "America's rattiest city," a title the Windy City had held for over a decade.

According to Orkin, Los Angeles' warm weather and bustling food scene make it an ideal breeding ground for rodents. The company attributes the shift in the rankings to a combination of factors, including weather patterns, urban infrastructure, and human behavior.

Meanwhile, Chicago still has its work cut out for it, falling to second place behind Los Angeles. New York City takes third spot, while San Francisco rounds out the top four.

Despite losing its title, Chicago is still committed to keeping its streets clean and rodent-free. The city's Department of Streets and Sanitation has implemented new programs aimed at curbing rat populations, including a recent initiative that introduced rat birth control in key neighborhoods.

The program uses a solid pellet developed by Arizona-based company SenesTech, which contains cottonseed oil, an active ingredient that affects fertility in rats without causing them harm. Neighborhoods such as Wicker Park and Bucktown are the latest to join the effort, looking to reduce their rodent populations through targeted birth control measures.

While Los Angeles may have taken over as the top "rattiest city," Chicago is far from done trying to reclaim its title. The city's commitment to keeping its streets clean remains unwavering, and its residents continue to work towards a rat-free future.

I'm not surprised LA took over from Chicago, but it does seem like the perfect storm of warm weather and food scene = rat party! And kudos to Chicago for keeping their streets clean and trying new things like birth control for rats - that's some innovative stuff! But you have to wonder if there's more to LA's rise than just the usual suspects... are they hiding something?

idk why people live in LA lol they must love rats. chicago still trying tho, but i think it's cool that they're experimenting with birth control for rats wicker park and bucktown are already on board, let's see how that goes. anyway, it's not all bad, at least the city is taking steps to keep it clean. but like, who wants a bunch of rats in their neighborhood?

LA rats are where it's at! Meanwhile, Chi-town is still low-key trying to catch up with its sneaky rat squad [insert Pepe the Frog "I can has cheezburger" meme]

I mean... who would've thought that LA was gonna dethrone Chi-Town as the top ratty city? I remember when Chicago used to be the epicenter of rodent infestations back in the 90s, it was like they had a special talent for attracting those pesky critters. But now, it seems like LA's warm weather and all-you-can-eat food scene have given them an unfair advantage. Still, I gotta respect Chicago's efforts to stay on top of their rodent population – introducing rat birth control in neighborhoods? That's some next-level stuff right there

I'm not surprised LA took the spot . I mean, have you been to Hollywood lately? It's like a never-ending food fest for rats . And yeah, it makes sense that warm weather would lead to more rodents popping up everywhere. But Chicago is still on my mind... I remember when I first moved here, the streets were so clean and rat-free . Now, I see them scurrying around all the time . Still, I'm optimistic about their new programs – who wouldn't want a rat-free Wicker Park? The company that developed that birth control stuff is actually pretty cool too... it's like they're tackling this problem from multiple angles. And hey, at least LA has to deal with the fame and fortune of Hollywood rats now .

Ugh LA is taking over the rodent throne and I'm not surprised . I mean, who wouldn't want a bunch of rats roaming around in one of the most beautiful cities in the world? And it's not like Chicago isn't trying hard enough, they're already implementing birth control programs . It just feels like the rats are winning this time. The city can't keep up with the rat population growth and LA is reaping the benefits. I'm kinda rooting for NYC to take over next . But honestly, it's all just a losing battle against nature, right?

omg i just had the craziest dream about rats and now this article is making me think about it lol. so chicago loses to los angeles but still doing stuff to keep their streets clean? that's kinda cool, i guess. i mean, i've been to both cities and i know how messy they can be . but rat control measures? that sounds like something my aunt would do . is it hard to use the birth control thing? does it work well?

I think LA taking over the top spot is a total bust I mean, have you seen the traffic on the 405? It's like a petri dish for rats! The idea that warm weather and food scenes are the main reasons for their population boom is just common sense. Chicago was always going to be number one – they're more laid back, no fuss, no muss... just like how people keep their apartments clean in Wicker Park

I'm shocked that LA is dethroned as the top rat-infested city... I remember when Chicago was the one they all feared . Now it's like the tables have turned. LA's food scene must be attracting some unwanted guests . But you know what? I'm not surprised. Cities are always changing, and our habits can lead to some unwanted consequences . I do love that Chicago is still committed to keeping its streets clean, though. Those rat control programs sound like a great idea . Maybe one day they'll get the top spot back .

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT LOS ANGELES TOOK OVER AS THE TOP "RATTIEST CITY"!!! I MEAN, IT'S LA, IT'S ALWAYS BUSY AND FOOD-IE, WHAT DID THEY EXPECT?! BUT SERIOUSLY, IT'S NICE TO SEE CHICAGO STILL TRYING TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO RATS. I FEEL FOR THE WICKER PARK RESIDENTS WHO JUST GOT INTRODUCED TO THIS RAT BIRTH CONTROL STUFF THOUGH . ANYWAY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE BOTH CITIES ARE TAKING STEPS TO KEEP THEIR STREETS CLEAN, LET'S HOPE LA DOESN'T GET COMPLACENT ONCE THEY'RE ON TOP!

Wow LA is on fire when it comes to rats, I guess their food scene can be pretty tempting for those little critters Interesting that Chicago is still trying hard to keep its streets clean despite losing the crown

ugh I don't know man... i mean LA sounds like it has all the ingredients for a rat infestation nightmare, but at the same time, is that really the best way to tackle the problem? introducing birth control pills for rats? it's just so... invasive? and what about all the other factors that Orkin mentioned? weather patterns, urban infrastructure... doesn't Chicago have those too? shouldn't they be a bigger focus?

on the flip side though, I guess if it means people are actually taking steps to address the issue, then I'm down. Wicker Park and Bucktown's rat birth control program might just work ... or maybe not ? idk, can we have both?

I gotta say, I'm kinda stoked for Chicago ! Sure, they might not be the top dog in rats no more, but they're still on the right track . Los Angeles got that spot, but at least Chicago's working hard to keep its streets clean . That rat birth control program is a game-changer . I mean, who wouldn't want a rodent-free city? It's all about making progress and not giving up . And hey, Chicago's got some awesome neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Bucktown that are already seeing results . So, even though they might not be the top pick in rats right now, I'm rooting for them !

I'm not entirely surprised by Los Angeles' ascension to the top spot - LA's climate and food scene do seem conducive to rodent proliferation . However, it's interesting to see how Chicago is addressing its own rat issue with a more proactive approach . The implementation of rat birth control in targeted neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Bucktown shows that the city is taking a multi-faceted approach to reducing rodent populations .

It will be fascinating to monitor the effectiveness of this initiative and see if it can help Chicago reclaim its title in future studies . On a related note, I'd love to explore more research on human behavior's role in shaping urban rodents' habitats .

I gotta say, rats in cities are still super weird . But seriously, LA taking over as the top dog is no surprise with that food scene going on . Anyway, Chicago's new rat control program is actually kinda cool . Using birth control pellets to reduce population is a novel approach – I hope it sticks around for a while . Can't say I'm rooting for rats or anything, but it's interesting to see cities adapting to the problem . Anyway, gotta give props to Chicago for not giving up on its rat-free goals .

Ugh I'm not surprised LA won this title... have you seen the way they're building those new high-rises everywhere? More surfaces for rats to scurry around! And all that food at those trendy restaurants is just begging for some furry friends to crash the party . Chicago might be trying to stay on top, but I'm not holding my breath... what's next, a rat-themed festival in Wicker Park?