Terminix Releases Top 15 Roof Rat Cities List

Savannah, Ga. Climbs Atop the Annual Terminix Ranking of Most Roof Rat-Infested Cities

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To demonstrate the importance of fall pest preparation, Terminix^®, a leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States and a ServiceMaster^® (NYSE: SERV) company, today released its 2017 list of the top 15 roof rat-infested cities in America, based on services provided by Terminix.

Roof rats have strong climbing skills and a hairless, scaly tail that can grow up to a foot long. The top cities where these rodents reside are scattered throughout the southern and coastal regions of the country. The following 15 top cities feature the most roof rats, based on Terminix services provided to clients from January-October 2017:

The top 15 cities for roof rat infestations in the United States* are:

1. Savannah, Ga.
2. Memphis, Tenn.
3. Miami, Fla.
4. Sacramento, Calif.
5. Fort Myers, Fla.
6. Los Angeles, Calif.
7. Tampa, Fla.
8. Dallas, Texas
9. San Diego, Calif.
10. San Francisco, Calif.
11. Honolulu, Hawaii
12. Phoenix, Ariz.
13. Houston, Texas
14. Jacksonville, Fla.
15. San Antonio, Texas

Autumn is a very active time of year for roof rats and other rodents, as they often seek entry into homes after their outdoor food sources are exhausted. Roof rats are often tree-dwelling, and are more likely to enter a structure through the roof than other species. They often climb wires or trees to seek out points of entry, such as holes around soffit vents, cables entering buildings, or turbine and box vents on roofs. Once inside, they can multiply quickly—as can homeowners’ worries about their presence.

“Homeowners should consider the changing leaves a reminder that it’s time for a check-up on their home’s defenses against invasive pets, including roof rats,” said Paul Curtis, director, technical services at Terminix. “These rodents can cause damage to homes, with teeth that can chew through wiring, drywall and other construction materials. The best way to help ensure a relaxing fall season is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place.”

Terminix recommends homeowners add pest prevention to their fall to-do list alongside raking leaves and sharpening their pumpkin carving skills. A few tips include:

• Ensuring all firewood, debris and piles of stone or brick are kept as far from the foundation of the home as possible.
• Sealing any holes or cracks larger than a quarter inch, to help prevent rodents from squeezing their way in.
• Installing a thick weather stripping along the bottom of doors, which will help ensure only guests and an autumn breeze can enter through the front door.
• Work with a qualified pest management professional to determine potential problem areas in your home, which can help to prevent pest challenges before they start.

While roof rats may have a presence in these cities, it is important to note that other types of rodents, such as the Norway Rat, are found throughout the nation. Warning signs of roof rats or other commensal rodents include sounds of movement from attics or roofs (especially at night), droppings and smudge marks from oil or dirt in the attic, or sightings of pests themselves. Because all rodents can pose a potential safety hazard, a trained professional from Terminix should inspect any homes suspected of harboring roof rats or another pest. Once a technician has determined the source of the infestation and eliminated the intruders, they can also recommend steps to keep pests out in the future.

For more information, visit Terminix.com or call your local Terminix branch.

*This list was created by compiling services data from more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the highest number of actual services between Jan. 1, 2017 and Oct. 1, 2017.

Terminix

Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 22 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. Terminix is the Official Pest Control Specialist of Minor League Baseball^TM. To learn more about Terminix, visit www.Terminix.com.

ServiceMaster

ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner's dilemma. Every day, we visit more than 75,000 homes and businesses through our extensive service network of expert professionals. Technology powers our trusted experts to engage with customers so they can order, buy and receive services when, where and how they want them. Our well-recognized brands include American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential floor cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). ServiceMaster is the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League Baseball^TM. Like, follow or visit us at facebook.com/ServiceMaster, linkedin.com/ServiceMaster, twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or servicemaster.com.