Detroit entered Terminix’s annual top 10 list of U.S. cities with the most rodent-control service activity, according to the company’s ranking based on 2025 data from more than 300 branches nationwide.
New York and Los Angeles held the first and second positions, respectively, while Philadelphia rose to third. Detroit moved up from No. 11 to make the top 10 for the first time, the source report said. Other cities included in the top 10 were Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and Dallas.
The ranking reflects where Terminix customers most frequently used the company’s services. It is not described as a direct count of rat populations or a measure of infestation rates across all homes and businesses in each city.
The source report cited a 2023 memorandum in which then-Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield said residents raised rodent problems at a community meeting. The report said Fox News Digital sought comment from Sheffield’s office.
Terminix attributed rodent activity in cities to population density, available food and places where rodents can hide. The company also recommended sealing gaps around buildings, keeping food in airtight containers and cleaning up food residue. Those suggestions were attributed to Terminix.
