The Most ‘Rattiest’ City in Massachusetts

Pest control company Orkin has reported that every fall, approximately 21 million American homes are invaded by mice and other rodents. Between October and February, these pests are looking for food, shelter from the cold, and water.

"Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards," said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. "Rats are capable of squeezing into spaces through holes as small as a quarter, which makes it especially important to seal cracks from the outside."

The pest control company released its annual list of the top 50 most infested rat cities. These rankings are determined by the number of new rodent control services requested, thus indicating the extent of demand and the efforts made by residents and businesses to combat rodent problems. It’s worth mentioning that their ranking includes both residential and commercial pest control services.

Unfortunately, a city in Massachusetts has earned a place on the list of “rattiest” cities. In this year's rankings, Boston secured spot number 13.

At the top of their ranking is Chicago. The city has maintained its position as the city with the highest rodent activity in the United States for the ninth consecutive year. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has reclaimed the second position, and New York has moved down to third place. Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are the top five cities on the list.

Orkin offers valuable recommendations for preventing rats and mice from invading your home. One of the most critical steps is not to leave food out. Store grains, cereals, and crumbs in sealed containers to prevent rodents from finding food sources. Additionally, declutter your living space and avoid leaving cardboard items out, as rodents use them for nests.

Moreover, your home's surroundings play a vital role in rodent prevention. Keep tall grass, woodpiles, and tree branches away from your home to deter rodents from finding shelter and entry points. To proactively combat rodent infestations, it's recommended that you regularly inspect both the interior and exterior of your home for signs such as droppings, burrows, and rub marks along baseboards and walls.

Lastly, address any cracks or holes that could serve as access points for rodents. Consider installing weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to create an effective barrier against unwanted intruders.

Take a look at the full list here.

There are roughly 220 miles and four and half hours between Boston and New York. On the drive south (or return trip North), it's likely you'll need to make a pit stop. Whether it's to accommodate a bathroom request, grab a bite to eat or get a breath of air, we've compiled a list of the best stops along I-95 on the Boston to New York drive.

We'll assume here that we are driving south. Therefore, your journey begins in Massachusetts. You'll pull past Providence and a few exit signs for T.F. Green Airport before enduring the meat of the trip. That would be a good two-plus hours through Connecticut, where you will surely slow down at some point. Finally, after trekking through the Constitution State, you start to see the exit sign numbers get down to single digits. The empire state awaits.

This journey can seem like a grueling effort up and down I-95. In a bigger picture, a four-hour route between two major markets is not really that much. Just ask the Midwest. If you want to drive from Chicago to Minneapolis, you are looking at close to a seven-hour drive, with only one state in the way. Nonetheless, the 1-95 Boston to New York route can be grueling. Therefore, we put together a collection of different stops to help make it more enjoyable.

Of course, this exercise does not include kids screaming in the backseat that need an immediate stop. Perhaps that's another list. Here, we will pinpoint some pleasing attractions you would have the time to stop for. However, we won't stray too far off the exits. And while taking 12 hours to play blackjack at Foxwoods would be a blast, we will narrow in on relatively short stops only.

So, let's hop in the car and find the best stops from Boston to New York along I-95.

*Note - we are not going in order of stops from north to south. We are listing in an overall ranking format.

We'll start with the best thing to stop for. Pizza. Frank Pepe's is a legendary establishment in the New Haven pizza scene. The good news here is that you have choices. If the original New Haven spot is too far off the path (or has a long wait), there's also a location in Fairfield, CT at Exit 24.

If you need a moment of fresh air or to loosen up the legs, this scenic lookout point offers a nice view of the Mystic River. There's comfortable parking space, and its an easy pull off or on to the interstate. It's not uncommon to find people taking photographs here as well.

Sure there are dozens of Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts right along the path, but pulling into Cafe Tempo Coffee House in Warwick, Rhode Island is well worth the wait. A homemade banana hazelnut iced coffee makes any slow-moving traffic situation more manageable.

After all that pizza and coffee somebody is going to need a bathroom. At mile-marker 41, via southbound access, you will find a rest stop in Milford CT that is a direct pull-off I-95. You can fill up on gas, or more food if you still feel like snacking. There are plenty of fast food and candy options at this stop.

This is applicable on your way out or into Massachusetts. Bay State Vintage Guitars is a family owned shop has some of the nicest custom and vintage guitars available. Each instrument on the wall tells a story and his a history that goes back well beyond what's considered classic rock. They are located on Washington St. in Norwood.

Hot oil pizza is a thing in Connecticut and it's delicious. Colony Grill in Stamford is bound to have whatever game that is live playing on their TV's. Their menu consists of pizza and drinks, so you know they take their pie seriously. Like Pepe's, you have a few choices in addition to Stamford. Their Fairfield location is also a stone's throw off I-95.