(Gray News) – A pest control company has released its annual list of the nation’s “seediest cities.”

For the 10th year in a row, Chicago ranks first on Orkin’s Most Failed Cities list.

Chicago’s decade-long dominance highlights the city’s ongoing fight against rodents, according to the pest control company. The Windy City is full of alleys that offer hidden hideaways and plenty of space for rats to hide while feasting on trash.

Other major cities on the list also face similar rodent-related challenges.

Los Angeles is in second place and New York is third.

Orkin released the list Monday and said the ranking of cities was based on the number of new rodent services that highlight demand from residents and businesses trying to deal with rodent problems.

Data on residential and commercial pest treatments was collected from September 1, 2023 to August 31.

Here are the top 10 seediest cities in America according to Orkin:

1. CHICAGO
2. LOS ANGELES
3. NEW YORK
4. SAN FRANCISCO
5. WASHINGTON, DC.
6. DENVER
7. PHILADELPHIA
8. DETROIT
9. BALTIMORE
10. CLEVELAND

Orkin says the best ways to keep rats away include proper food storage, decluttering, maintaining a property’s landscape, frequent inspections as well as sealing cracks and holes in the home or building.

The full list of cities is available online.

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