Cities With The Worst Rat Infestations

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your home from common household pests is to know if your city commonly has issues. According to Google, the top 10 states who searched for pest control services are:

1. Delaware
2. Alabama 
3. Georgia 
4. Florida 
5. Arizona 
6. Mississippi 
7. South Carolina
8. Tennessee 
9. North Carolina
10. Missouri 

Oddly enough, our experts found that the top 10 cities with the highest rate of pest infestations are:

1. New York, NY
2. Boston, MA
3. Chicago, IL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
6. Detroit, MI
7. Washington, DC
8. Philadelphia, PA
9. Hartford-New Haven, CT
10. Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN

As you can see from this list, these are all larger cities. With a denser population comes more calls. But a good exterminator will tell you that if your neighbor has one, you’re at risk of having one too. This is especially true in adjoining homes such as townhouses, duplexes, and apartment buildings. 

Pests like rats, mice, and cockroaches can travel through pipes and air ducts easily in these buildings. So if your neighbor has a problem, you’ll likely have a problem as well in these buildings. 

Top 10 States With The Worst Rat Infestations 

Rats love to rummage through human garbage and waste, so they normally congregate in larger cities, as there’s easy access to food. However, wild rats can also come into homes from surrounding forested areas when it gets cold. According to Google, here are the top ten states with trending searches for rat infestations. 

1. Louisiana 
2. Oregon 
3. California 
4. Georgia 
5. Alabama 
6. New York 
7. Colorado 
8. Florida 
9. Pennsylvania
10. Maryland

If you’re worried about your home having a rat infestation, look out for:

• Droppings 
• Chew marks on wood, furniture, and food
• Dirty or greasy rub marks and tracks
• Strange noises 
• Nests in warm and dark places

Top 10 States With The Worst Bed Bug Infestations

Bed bugs can be found all throughout the country. If you travel often, you’re at a higher risk of contracting them and bringing them into your home. Be sure to know how to look for bed bugs when you stay in a new place. 

According to Google, the top ten states that searched for information about bed bug infestations are:

1. Pennsylvania
2. Ohio
3. Indiana 
4. Tennessee
5. Illinois 
6. New York 
7. Michigan 
8. Virgina 
9. Georgia
10. North Carolina

If you have traveled to one of these states recently, or are concerned about bed bugs in your home, follow these inspection tips. Signs of infection can be found in the seams, crevices, folds, trim of bed frames and cracks. Look for:

• Dark spots and stains
• Staining from insect feces and blood
• Molted skins and eggshells where bed bugs hide
• An offensive, sweet, musty odour

Top 10 States With the Worst Tick Infestations 

Ticks are common in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and the Pacific coastal regions of America. However, they can occur anywhere across the country. If you live in a place with a lot of deer or that was recently deforested, be on the lookout for signs of infestation.

Ticks, specifically deer ticks, can spread Lyme disease even in dogs! Be sure to know how to prevent ticks and how to look for them if you go hiking often.

According to Google, the states who searched for information on ticks the most are:

1. Texas
2. Pennsylvania 
3. California 
4. Main 
5. Vermont 
6. Vermont 
7. New Hampshire
8. Minnesota 
9. Rhode Island 
10. Wisconsin  

To look for ticks on your dogs or other animals, simply run your hand across their fur looking for bumps and irregularities. Next, look in between their paws and on their ears for ticks. If you do find a tick, do not rip it off or crush it! You could do more damage to your pet. 

Top 10 States With the Worst Flea Infestations

Fleas are another common infestation that annoy both you and your pet. What makes fleas dangerous is they lay dormant for over a year before they hatch! So even if you think you’ve gotten rid of your first infestation, it’s likely that you’ll experience another one very soon. 

Fleas are picky and need an ideal temperature in order to hatch. They prefer warmer temperatures, as it makes it easier for them to complete their life cycle.

According to Google, the states who searched for information on fleas the most are:

1. Louisiana 
2. Kentucky
3. Indiana 
4. Georgia 
5. South Carolina 
6. Alabama 
7. Tennessee 
8. Oklahoma 
9. Oregon 
10. South Carolina   

Fleas don’t normally develop on humans. If they do, they like to go for human’s lower legs. Fleas can jump quite far for how small they are, so you’ll often find them moving from upholstered items in your home to your dog. To look for signs of a flea infestation on your dog, observe your pet for:

• Excessive itching 
• Pale gums from blood loss
• Lost fur
• Scabs from scratching