Terminix ranks Detroit in top 10 most rodent-infested US cities for first time
Pest control company Terminix's annual list put Detroit in the top 10 for the first time, up from No. 11. New York and Los Angeles kept the top two spots.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Terminix, a national pest control company, has released its annual list of the 10 most rodent-infested US cities, and Detroit is on it for the first time. Fox NewsR “A national pest control company has released its annual list of the top 10 most rodent-infested cities in the U.S. — and one Midwest city has now joined the list for the first time.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “For the first time, Detroit cracked the top 10, moving up one spot from No. 11.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The ranking uses 2025 rodent control service data from more than 300 Terminix branches, and ranks cities where residents most frequently used the company's services. Fox NewsR “The list is based on rodent control service data from more than 300 Terminix branches nationwide in 2025, ranking cities where residents most frequently used the company's services.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1New York and Los Angeles kept the top two spots, and Philadelphia moved up one place to No. 3. New York PostR “While New York and Los Angeles held onto the top two spots, Philadelphia moved up one spot to No. 3.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and Dallas also returned to the top 10. Hartford, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa and Sacramento followed Detroit, completing the top 15. Fox NewsR “The top 10 list included returning cities like Houston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — as well as Boston and Dallas.”“Following Detroit on the list were Hartford, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa and Sacramento, rounding out the top 15.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Terminix said every city on the list has large populations, abundant food sources and many places for rodents to hide. It said food waste, dumpsters, alleys and parks give rodents easy access to food, and older buildings, subway systems and sewer networks give them places to travel, hide and nest. New York PostR “Terminix said all the cities on the list share three common factors: large populations, abundant food sources and plenty of places for rodents to hide.”““Older buildings, subway systems, and sewer networks provide additional places to travel, hide, and nest.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Fox News Digital linked the ranking to earlier concerns in Detroit. In a 2023 memorandum it obtained, Mary Sheffield, then city council president and now mayor, said rodent infestations were a main complaint at a community meeting she held. She said residents told her that many demolition properties become homes for rats. Fox News Digital said it asked Sheffield's office for comment. Fox NewsR “In a 2023 memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, who was then serving as the city council president, said residents complained about rodent infestations during a community meeting.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR ““[Residents] shared that many demolition properties become homes for rat infestation.”” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Terminix urged residents to seal cracks and openings around doors, windows and foundations, store food in airtight containers, and keep living spaces free of crumbs and food residue. The company said these steps can significantly lower the risk of infestation. New York PostR “That includes sealing cracks and openings around doors, windows and foundations, storing food in airtight containers and keeping living spaces clean and free of crumbs and food residue.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The company is the Rentokil Terminix company, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The ranking measures service use at its own branches, not an independent count of rodents. Fox NewsR “The Rentokil Terminix company is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.”“ranking cities where residents most frequently used the company's services” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Light consumer and lifestyle piece that leads on the Midwest city entering the list. It relays the Terminix release and adds a Detroit local angle.
- Emphasis
- Detroit's first appearance, the top-city ranking, Terminix's explanation of why cities attract rodents, and prevention tips. It also gives a 2023 Sheffield memo about resident complaints.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No independent data, city health department response or Sheffield reply is given. Both outlets note that the ranking comes from Terminix's own service data, but neither discusses the limits of that method. The Post article is the Fox News piece, credited to Fox News, so the two are one report, not independent coverage.
- Charged language
- “Midwest surprise”“rat-infested”“cracked the top 10”
- For example
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“one Midwest city has now joined the list for the first time” — Fox News
“New York and Los Angeles held top two spots, while Philadelphia bumped up to No. 3 — and a new city joined the top 10” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Terminix's annual list is based on 2025 service data from more than 300 branches.
- Detroit entered the top 10 for the first time, moving up from No. 11.
- New York and Los Angeles hold the top two spots, and Philadelphia is No. 3.
- Terminix cites large populations, food sources and hiding places as the common factors.
Terminix organisation
Terminix presents the list as based on its own branch data. It says large populations, food sources and hiding places explain the ranking, and it urges residents to rodent-proof their homes.
““Together, these conditions give rats and mice the resources they need to survive and reproduce,” said Terminix in a release.” — New York Post
““If you live in one of the most rat-infested cities, these steps can significantly help lower the risk of a rodent infestation,” the company added.” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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America’s most rat-infested cities ranked as Midwest surprise cracks top 10
Neutral Fox News lifestyle report relaying the Terminix ranking, with a Detroit angle from a 2023 Sheffield memo and prevention advice.
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America’s most rat-infested cities ranked as Midwest surprise cracks top 10
Neutral New York Post republication of the Fox News article, with the same text and a lede that stresses New York's No. 1 rank.
- 12 Oct 18:46 First Fox NewsR America’s most rat-infested cities ranked as Midwest surprise cracks top 10
- 13 Oct 02:59 +8h 13m New York PostR America’s most rat-infested cities ranked as Midwest surprise cracks top 10
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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