New York has long been considered the rat capital of the United States. However, a recent report shared with The Post reveals that this perception may be changing.
According to Yelp, a popular platform for pest control reviews and services, interest in pest protection has increased by 165% nationwide in June 2024, compared to June 2023.
The report highlights a significant increase in demand for pest control services. This increase was measured by looking at how frequently certain queries were entered per million searches. Tara Lewis, Yelp trends expert and vice president of community outreach, commented: “Nothing disrupts a summer gathering more than the presence of a bug or rodent in your space.”
Rats in California: The New Pest Capital?
Contrary to what many might think, California leads the nation in rodent-related pest control searches. It is followed by Wyoming, Washington DC, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Although New York saw a 107% increase in searches for “rodent exterminators” in June 2024 compared to the same month the previous year, it wasn’t enough to put the state at the top of the list.
The threat of cockroaches and spiders Joro
The report also notes that nationwide, cockroach extermination was the most sought-after service, with a 323% increase in June 2024 compared to June 2023.
Joro spiders, which can grow to the size of a human hand and have invaded the U.S. for more than a decade, have also caused a 236 percent increase in searches for spider exterminators across all states.
Washington DC: The capital of plagues
Washington, D.C. tops the list as the most pest-ridden location overall. The nation’s capital ranks first in search volume for bed bug, roach and mosquito treatment. In contrast, New York City ranks fifth for bed bug inspections, sixth for roach extermination and 34th for rodent repellent services.
New York’s effort against rats
News of New York’s decline in the pest rankings comes a year after the city fell to third place in Orkin’s annual ranking, behind Los Angeles and Chicago, and just ahead of Washington DC.
This drop in the rankings could be a sign that Mayor Eric Adams’ efforts are paying off. Adams, who has repeatedly stated “I hate rats” and confessed to being “obsessed with killing them,” has implemented several new plans to control these pesky animals.
The city has introduced an ambitious plan to better manage trash, requiring residents to separate food and yard waste, introducing new trash and recycling bins, and limiting trash collection times. However, many still complain of overflowing waste.
He has also used innovative methods such as dry ice to eradicate rodents and proposed a rat birth control program. He has also appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first “rat czar,” with an annual salary of $155,000.
Keep reading:
* The Big Apple steps up its fight against garbage and rats with new trucks and containers
* 7 places where snakes can hide without you noticing
* 5 smells to avoid to keep snakes away from your home