For the sixth year in a row, Chicago is the rattiest city in the US

Chicago, the windy city, has topped the list of the rattiest cities in the United States for the sixth year in a row, reports CNN.

Orkin, an Atlanta-based pest control service, ranks US cities based on the number of new rodent treatments from September 1 to August 31 of each year. The result is a list of 50 cities, with most changing spots each time the list is updated. Chicago, however, is number one in the list.

Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist, said that rodents are very good at sniffing out food and shelter. He also said that the residential properties are the most ideal place for the rodents as once they have settled in, they are capable of reproducing rapidly and in large quantities.

Are cats the ultimate weapon in public health?

Efforts to tame the city's rat population have been going on for years. Chicago's "war on rats" escalated with the introduction of a new rat taskforce back in 2016. Residents had even begun adopting cats to reduce their numbers.

How the pandemic has worsened rat populations:

United State's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its website says, "Community-wide closures have led to a decrease in food available to rodents, especially in dense commercial areas, and some jurisdictions have reported an increase in rodent activity as rodents search for new sources of food."

Orkin also warned that rat activity will continue increasing as rodents began seeking warm shelter as the months get colder.

The article originally appeared on CNN and has been slightly modified