More Than 1 in 10 Oregon Homes Are Infested With Rodents, New Study Finds

New research ranks Oregon as the 39^th worst state in terms of homes infested with rats and mice, and Sherman County is considered Oregon’s Rat Capital.

Rat And Mice Infestations In Oregon Homes

The property buying experts at Eden Emerald Buyers Agent researched the most rodent-infested states in the US, analyzing 2024 state- and county-level statistics from the latest US Census experimental data on Signs of Rodents as part of the American Housing Survey.

Approximately 13.6% of homes in the US are infested with rodents. ‘Rodents’ means either mice or rats.

Regionally, the northeastern and midwestern states are teeming with mice and rats compared to the southern regions, and local factors such as building density, waste management practices, and predator populations play crucial roles in determining rodent presence.

Vermont, with an alarming 241 rats and mice for every 1,000 homes, is America’s most rodent-infested state. The worst place is Orange County, where 34.5% of homes are riddled with rodents.

On the other end, 17.2% of Chittenden County’s occupied dwellings are affected. The rural character and brutally cold winters send Green Mountain creatures to seek shelter inside homes when temperatures plummet.

Josh Roth, Chief Buyers Agent at Eden Emerald Buyers Agent, said, “In rural counties, concentrations can generally be three times higher than the national average of 13.6%.”

Florida ranked as America’s least rat-plagued state, with less than 44 rodents per 1,000 housing units, despite 21% of Lafayette County homes still experiencing regular mouse and rat raids.

In Oregon, there are 182,985 housing units infested with 1,808,465 rats and mice, 101 rodents per 1,000 homes. !0,1% of Oregon homes have rodent infestations. In the counties:

• Sherman County: 424 mice and rats per 1,000 housing units- 42.4% of homes affected;
• Gilliam County: 347 rodents per 1,000 homes;
• Wallowa County: 327 rodents per 1,000 homes;
• Wheeler County: 32.1% of homes are affected;
• Grant County: 26.9% of homes affected.

Property experts have warned that rodent infestations can slash up to 10% off the home’s value. Rodent infestations can cause severe structural damage and create health hazards in badly affected areas.

Roth advises homebuyers in Oregon to demand property inspections that specifically look for signs of rodent damage.