Philly area ranked No. 1 for rodents in houses earlier than the pandemic, when the issue solely grew

Adopting a furry friend during the pandemic was a way for many people to deal with bans, quarantines, and loneliness. But other, far less welcome beings have also made themselves comfortable in people’s houses and apartments.

At the beginning of the pandemic, when crowds of employees left office buildings and started working from home, pests followed. As in other cities around the country, Philadelphia residents saw more rodents and cockroaches.

But even before the pandemic, the Philadelphia metropolitan area accepted the undesirable designation among the 15 most densely populated areas as the highest percentage of residents who have spotted rodents in their homes in the past 12 months, according to housing data released by the Census Bureau this year from 2019. Its proportion of sightings was statistically linked to the Boston area.

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In the Philadelphia area, nearly 19% of residential units reported sightings of mice or rats, a higher proportion than the approximately 11% who reported sightings in the New York area. About 6% of residential units in the Philadelphia area reported seeing cockroaches.

Nationwide, around 11% of inhabited housing units – around 14 million – said they had seen cockroaches in their homes in the past 12 months. Slightly more – almost 12% – said they had seen mice or rats.

Rodents are more commonly spotted in homes in the northeast, while cockroaches are more common in the south.

People living within half a block of trash or abandoned buildings are more likely to report pests. This also applies to people on lower incomes who live in homes with structural defects and water leaks, according to the Census Bureau.

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Aside from being uncomfortable with rats and mice, they can transmit disease to humans and cockroaches can cause asthma.

Prevention is the best way to keep pests away. Keep food sealed and stored, dispose of trash frequently and safely, and regularly clean your home according to Apartment Guide’s tips. Check your home for cracks and rot and fix them ASAP.