New York and Los Angeles top Terminix 2025 list of most rodent-infested US cities Terminix ranked US cities by rodent control service calls in 2025. New York and Los Angeles held the top two spots, Philadelphia rose to No. 3, and Detroit entered the top 10. New York City and Los Angeles remain the most rodent-infested cities in the United States, according to a new ranking from pest control company Terminix. The 2025 list is based on rodent control service data from more than 300 Terminix branches nationwide. It ranks cities where residents most frequently used the company's services. New York and Los Angeles held onto the top two spots. Philadelphia moved up one spot to No. 3.Detroit Enters Top 10 Rodent ListDetroit jumped from No. 11 to crack the top 10, becoming a new entrant this year. The top 10 also included returning cities such as Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C. , Boston and Dallas. The full top 50 list ranks cities by the number of rodent-related calls Terminix receives in each one.In a 2023 memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, who was then serving as city council president, said residents complained about rodent infestations during a community meeting. Residents shared that many demolition properties become homes for rat infestation, she said. Fox News Digital reached out to Sheffield's office for comment.Why Urban Cities Attract RatsTerminix blamed the glut of rats and mice in these cities on the amount of available food for the rodents and the number of places they have to hide. Large populations generate significant amounts of food waste, while dumpsters, alleys, parks, and other urban spaces can give rodents easy access to food, the Terminix report explained. Older buildings, subway systems, and sewer networks provide additional places to travel, hide, and nest.Together, these conditions give rats and mice the resources they need to survive and reproduce, the company said in a release. The Rentokil Terminix company is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The company also pointed out that extreme temperatures can send the critters looking for someplace indoors to hide, which is particularly important to remember as winter weather moves in.CDC Warnings On Rodent DiseasesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says humans can contract diseases spread by rats or mice by handling them, breathing in air or eating food contaminated with rodent waste, or being bitten by the animals. Rats and mice also can carry ticks, mites, and fleas that can spread disease. The health agency points out that, in many cases, people will see signs that rodents are present before they see a rat or mouse.It advises keeping an eye out for rodent droppings and gnaw marks. The CDC advises that the best way to keep rodents from invading is to eliminate potential food sources, access to water, or spaces where the animals could take refuge.How To Prevent Rodent InfestationsIn its report, Terminix recommended keeping living spaces clean and free of crumbs and food residue, sealing as many entry points as possible, storing food in airtight containers, putting garbage in sealed bins, and organizing cluttered storage spaces that could be used by mice as nesting space. That includes sealing cracks and openings around doors, windows and foundations, storing food in airtight containers and keeping living spaces clean and free of crumbs and food residue.If you live in one of the most rat-infested cities, these steps can significantly help lower the risk of a rodent infestation, the company added. Information for this article was taken from Terminix and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This story was reported from Orlando.