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Fall is prime time for pesky rodents to be running around your neighborhood in search of food, water and a place to stay as temperatures to drop. Sacramento and several cities in the Bay Area rank high on the list of top rattiest cities, according to pest control company Orkin.See which cities ranked in the top 20 in the country, as per the number of rodent treatments the company performed in 2013:ChicagoLos AngelesWashington, D.C., HagerstownNew YorkSan Francisco, Oakland, San JoseSeattle, TacomaDetroitCleveland, Akron, CantonBaltimoreMiami, Ft. LauderdaleDallas, Ft. WorthDenverHoustonAtlantaBoston, ManchesterMinneapolis, St. PaulSacramento, Stockton, ModestoSyracuseIndianapolisCharlotteOrkin said that each fall, rats and mice invade an estimated 21 million American homes by way of holes as small as the size of a quarter or a dime. Rodents are also known to chew around holes to make them larger, allowing them to slip into homes. Homeowners and business owners often begin spotting rodents beginning in October.Rodents are not only a nuisance, but they can also pose severe health risks since they can carry hundreds of pathogens that spread through their urine, droppings and bits.According to a 2013 Orkin survey, 33 percent of Americans saw a rodent in their home in the last year.Here are some tips to help prevent rodents around your home and business, according to Orkin:Regularly inspect the home -- inside and outside -- for rodent droppings, rub marks or burrowsSeal all cracks and gaps around utility penetrations larger than 1/4 or an inch, as well as install weather stripping at the bottom of exterior doorsTrim overgrown branches, plants and bushes near the home, and consider keeping a two-foot barrier between any landscaping and the homeStore all food, including pet food, and garbage properly in sealed containers both indoors and outdoorsRemove all pet bowls after animals are finished eating, and remove pet waste from the lawn promptlyContact a pest professional for assistance managing rodents, as these pests can be dangerous and difficult to control.