New Report Finds U.S. Cities More Vulnerable Than Ever to Rodent I...( Experts Warn Homeowners to Take Ma...),Health

Experts Warn Homeowners to Take Matters into Their Own Hands This Fall

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Wacky weather, aging cities, and urban sprawl have rats on the move across the country. For the first time, the nation's foremost rodent experts Dale Kaukeinen and Dr. Bruce Colvin, have developed an assessment on the country's rodent problem. Kaukeinen and Colvin used the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics to reveal risk factors related to cities and their environments. The report, sponsored by d-CON(R), America's leading brand of rodenticide(*), identifies four key risk factors plaguing cities from New York to El Paso, Texas to Long Beach, California, and many more across the country, including:

-- Aging Infrastructure -- According to Kaukeinen and Colvin, antiquated

city structures are contributing to increased rodent activity. Older

cities are experiencing aging infrastructure such as sewer systems,

streets, sidewalks, areas of older un-kept housing and subway

systems. Looking at the 30 largest metropolitan areas of the U.S.,

four cities (New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Detroit) are over 300

years old, and 11 cities are over 200 years old.(1)

-- Resurgence of U.S. Cities as Residential Areas -- According to the US

Census Bureau, metropolitan areas in the U.S. grew by nearly 10%

during the 1990s, with the greatest growth in the South and West.(2)

Over the past few decades, cities across the country have experienced

gentrification and development with a resurgence in living space,

construction, and expanding shopping and cultural centers. This

trend is proving to be an ideal environment for rodents due to the

density of people and the abundance of food waste from residents,

businesses and local eateries.

-- Unseasonably Warm and Wet Weather -- Cities with w
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