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.
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? 
they must love rats. chicago still trying tho, but i think it's cool that they're experimenting with birth control for rats 
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]
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LA is taking over the rodent throne and I'm not surprised 
. 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? 
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 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 
. But you know what? I'm not surprised. Cities are always changing, and our habits can lead to some unwanted consequences 
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LA is on fire when it comes to rats, I guess their food scene can be pretty tempting for those little critters 
? idk, can we have both? 
! 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 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a rodent-free city? 
. So, even though they might not be the top pick in rats right now, I'm rooting for them 
!
. On a related note, I'd love to explore more research on human behavior's role in shaping urban rodents' habitats 
.
. Anyway, Chicago's new rat control program is actually kinda cool 
. 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 
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