Oh rats! Philly ranked No. 7 'Rattiest City' for 2nd year in a row

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia has a rat problem. But there are six other cities where rodents are causing a bigger ruckus.

That's according to Orkin's 2021 "Top 50 Rattiest Cities List," which was released Thursday.

Philly remains at No. 7 on the list, same place it was last year when it moved up three spots from 2019.

RELATED: Rats are taking over one Philadelphia neighborhood

Chicago took the top spot for the seventh consecutive time, followed by Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Baltimore.

Orkin rated cities according to the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 15, 2020 to September 15, 2021. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

"During an unprecedented last year, the visibility of rodents increased, creating concern for homeowners and business owners alike. The pandemic-driven closure of restaurants forced rodents to find new food sources. Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior," the company said in a press release Wednesday.

RELATED: CDC warns of unusual, aggressive rats because of pandemic

The CDC says rats in search of food have become more aggressive during the pandemic

Here is how the top 10 looks:

1. Chicago

2. Los Angeles

3. New York

4. Washington, D.C.

5. San Francisco

6. Baltimore

7. Philadelphia

8. Detroit

9. Denver

10. Cleveland

Orkin recommends the following tips to help prevent rats and mice in and around the home:

• Do not leave out food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.

• Avoid cluttered spaces. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Take advantage of your extra time at home to clean and organize crowded spaces around the house.

• Do not let the landscaping run wild. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with homes can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home where they may find a way into the attic.

• Inspect both inside and outside your home for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The more quickly rodents are detected, the better.

• Look for possible entry points outside your home and seal cracks and holes if any are found. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help block rodents from sneaking inside.

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.