SC has one of most rat infested cities in US, Orkin says — and it’s worse than last year
Here’s another best of list Greenville is on — lots of rats.
Orkin has scored Greenville No. 30 — last year the Upstate city was 34.
The pest control company assesses Rattiest Cities by tracking new rodent services in owner-occupied residences from Aug. 20, 2024, to Aug. 21, 2025.
This year there’s a new No.1. — Los Angeles out-ratted Chicago, which held the spot for 10 years. That doesn’t mean things are good there, Orkin said. Rats galore.
Chicago has been fighting rats for more than a decade through a program called Cats at Work. The Tree House Humane Society traps feral cats, neuters them and then puts them back in neighborhoods. Residents feed and care for them and in turn the cats scare away the rats because the rodents sense the pheromones cats produce and move along.
“In true Hollywood fashion, Los Angeles has taken center stage,” Orkin said in a press release. “With year-round warm weather, a booming culinary scene and dense neighborhoods that offer ample access to food and shelter, the City of Angels checks every box for rodent survival.”
To mark the so-called achievement, Orkin is giving away tee shirts saying, “Rattiest City: Los Angeles.” Some might think that applies to the film industry.
Third was New York City.
Greenville has continuously moved up the Orkin list. It was 41 in 2020.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says the most common species of rat in South Carolina is the Norway rat, also known as brown rat. It can be 19 inches long, weighing up to 19 ounces with a scaly tail and small eyes. Some might say beady.
They breed year round, with an average of seven litters a year of seven to 11 offspring. They eat anything they can find and will kill poultry, birds, and rabbits.
No other South Carolina city was on Orkin’s Top 50 list.
California had the most cities on the list — San Francisco (No. 4), Sacramento (No. 19) and San Diego (No. 24).
Among the other cities in the top 10 are:
- Hartford, Conn. (+8)
- Washington, D.C. (-1)
- Detroit, Mich. (+1)
- Philadelphia, Pa. (-1)
- Minneapolis, Minn. (+2)
- Denver, Colo. (-4)
“Rats and mice are more than a nuisance — they’re opportunists,” said Ian Williams, Orkin entomologist. “If there’s food, warmth and a way in, they’ll find it. And once inside, their constant chewing and rapid reproduction can quickly turn a small issue into a large, expensive one.”
Why It Matters
They cause structural damage in walls, wiring and pipes. Their teeth are so strong, they can chew through steel garbage cans, Orkin said.
- Rodents carry Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, LCM, plague and typhus.
- Orkin has a simple way of remembering how to prevent infestations — GNAW.
- Guard entry points by sealing cracks, holes and gaps. Rats need a hole the size of a quarter to get inside.
- Never leave food unattended outside for pets or wildlife.
- Avoid clutter that could create nesting spots.
- Watch for signs like droppings, gnaw marks or rub marks, burrows, or scampering noises.