PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A nationwide survey conducted by Sentient Decision Science revealed which neighborhoods in Houston, Detroit, Nashville, Baltimore and Charlotte residents believe to be the "rattiest.” The survey was commissioned by d-CON.

Findings from the survey include:

The following neighborhoods are perceived to be the top three "rattiest" in each city:
Houston — West University Place; Uptown/Galleria; The Heights
Detroit — Crass Corridor; Downtown; New Center
Nashville — Downtown; East Nashville; 8th Ave./Melrose
Baltimore — Downtown; Fells Point; Inner Harbor
Charlotte — Uptown; NoDa; University City

Other results from the survey included:

• When asked which pest they feared the most seeing in their home, 19% of residents responded rats and 5% said mice. Out of the five cities, rats are most feared in Baltimore with 29% of the vote.
• Respondents said if they saw a mouse in their home, overall about 50% of respondents said they would deploy mouse traps or baits. Overall 23% would let out a good scream.
• 54% of respondents have encountered a mouse or a rat in their home at least once. By city, residents found rodents in their homes in the following order: 71% of Baltimore residents; 57% of Detroit residents; 51% of Nashville residents; 46% of Charlotte and Houston residents.

The five cities included in the survey were chosen based on results of the 2009 d-CON Rodent Risk Report, conducted by leading rodent experts Dale Kaukeinen and Dr. Bruce Colvin. The report revealed how climate changes and recent economic factors such as rising foreclosure rates and unemployment have had a substantial impact on the rising threat of rodent activity across the country. City revenue spent on infrastructure maintenance, climatic factors which affect rodent populations and records of rodenticide sales were all factors that were considered for the report.

Source: BusinessWire