The 50 Most Rat Infested Cities in America – 3 Michigan Cities Rank

Well, congratulations, fellow Michigander — we did it again. Not in sports, not in road repair, not even in pothole innovation. Nope, this time we scored big in rodents. Orkin just dropped its annual list of America's most rat-infested cities, and three Michigan towns proudly scurried their way onto it. It's the kind of recognition nobody asked for, but here we are — standing tall (and apparently squeaking) among the nation's finest.

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Orkin's yearly report ranks the 50 cities where rats have decided to set up shop, based on residential and commercial rodent treatments. And while we'd all prefer to see our state in a list about "Best Lakeside Living" or "Friendliest People," Michigan's aging homes, endless farmland, and cozy basements apparently scream "Welcome Home!" to every mouse and rat within a 50-mile radius.

Why Michigan Homes Attract Rats in the Fall

Pest Pros reports that every fall, as the air cools and fields empty, Michigan's rats and mice start packing for their version of a tropical getaway — straight into your house. Once crops are gone, the warth and snacks inside your home become irresistible. Pest control experts say fall is the best time to act, before those freeloaders pick a bedroom and start a family.

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What Experts Recommend to Shut the Door on Rodents

Aptive Pest Control recommends sealing entry points, cleaning up crumbs, and not assuming that wall scratches are "just the wind." It's not the wind. It's a rat with a dream.

RELATED: 43 Photos of Michigan's Apex Predator: Confirmed Cougar Sightings

Which Michigan Cities Made the List (and What It Means)

Three Michigan cities made the list — and if you've ever wondered why the dog is barking at the wall or basement door, you might live in one of them.