DETROIT – Three Michigan cities are ranked among the 50 most haunted in the United States.

Pest control company Orkin has released its The annual Rattiest City and Motor City list has grown in the rankings. Again.

Orkin ranks the list by the number of new rodent services the company provides in that city. It considers residential and commercial pest treatment.

It’s not just the Lions who have improved in recent years. After reaching 10th place in 2022 and #9 in 2023Detroit is now the 8th most haunted city in the country. This is real growth. Other Michigan cities include Grand Rapids at #27 and Flint at #42.

For the 10th year in a row, the #1 spot went to another Great Lakes city: Chicago. It’s basically like the Boston Celtics’ winning streak in the 1960s, but with a lot more rats and no basketball. It’s one hell of a dynasty.

According to the Washtenaw County Health Departmentthe most common rat species in Michigan is the Norway rat, also known as the brown rat. They live in underground burrows and feed on garbage, food scraps, pet food, fruits and vegetables.

Beyond health issues, rodents can cause severe structural damage with their powerful jaws and burrowing skills.

Because of the threats that rodents pose, it is important for homeowners to know how to identify a problem in order to take a proactive approach.

Some common signs of a rodent infestation include, from Orkin:

• excrement: Rodent droppings they are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen or pantry cupboards, under sinks, in chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards and above wall joists

• Signs of redness: Mice have been known to bite through walls, wood and wires. Damage to wiring inside walls can increase the risk of a house fire.

• nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, isolated areas, where there is little chance of disturbance. Be on the lookout for shredded paper products, cotton, packaging materials and other fabrics, as house mice like to build nests from these materials.

• Rub marks: Rats tend to leave trails of dark grease or dirt along walls and floorboards as they follow a trail around the house between the nest and the food.

• Strange noises: Rushing into the walls or attic could mean that a family of rodents is present. Rodents are particularly fond of attics because it is a secluded area for nest building.

To help residents avoid the potential health and safety risks associated with rodents, Orkin recommends the following tips:

• Store the food. Small crumbs and litter are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. They should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.

• The disorder. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents as they tend to chew them for use in their nests. Take advantage of the extra time you spend at home to clean and organize cluttered spaces around the house.

• Maintain your landscape. Tall grass with suitable shelter, such as wood piles near the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree limbs in contact with homes can also give rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home, where they can find a way into the attic.

• Inspect both the interior and exterior of your home. Be on the lookout for rodent droppings, burrows and scuff marks along baseboards and walls. The earlier rodents are detected, the better.

• Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks around your home. Install weatherstripping around entryways, especially under doors, to help keep mice out of the house.