WMAL Interview - ORKIN's DR. RON HARRISON - 10.18.16

Oct 18, 2016, 07:38 PM

INTERVIEW -- Dr. Ron Harrison, Orkin entomologist

TOPIC: - Why does DC have so many rats?

  • D.C. named third most rat-infested city in the U.S. WASHINGTON (ABC7) —

Those of you who are not fans of rodents may not want to read this.

D.C. has been named the third-most rat-filled city in the United States in 2016, according to a list released Monday by pest control company Orkin.

The Nation's Capital finished behind Chicago and New York on Orkin's list while Baltimore came in at number six.

The release highlighted how fall is the start of "rodent season" with colder temperatures leading rats and mice inside more homes to seek warmth.

"Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter, while mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime making it crucial to prepare for rodent season, whether or not your city made the list," John Kane, entomologist and Technical Director of Orkin's Midwest Region says in the release. "Further, where such holes are absent, rodents can create them through constant chewing."

The full list of the top 50 most rat-infested cities in the U.S. can be found below. They are ranked based on the number of Orkin rodent treatments done in each location in the past year.

  1. Chicago

  2. New York

  3. Washington D.C.