Oh, Rats! Is Your State Vulnerable For Indoor Pests?
He's a cute little critter, ain't he? Well, maybe not so much. The above stock photo of a modelesque mouse with a humanlike smirk that calls to mind Stuart Little is unfortunately a sign for high alarm across America following a new report from Home Gnome that gives insight into the most vulnerable states for indoor pests in 2025.
For a detailed reminder on what you're going up against this season, take a look below at a deep dive that PBS did last month during the start of spring cleaning:
RELATED: Spring Cleaning for Your Finances—Rubber Gloves Not Required
According to research provided by Home Gnome, the usual suspects are still the ones to watch out for. Rats have a population exceeding 10 million in at least four states, mosquitoes have over 50 species making rounds throughout 34 states, over 400 spider species are crawling through 11 different states and when it comes to flea & tick season, well, that simply never ends in 12 states.
Take a look at a better breakdown below, via Home Gnome :
'From 9-inch centipedes crawling through Hawaiian homes to 20 million rats roaming New York, America's pest problem is bigger (and weirder) than you think.
In 2025, Florida takes the top spot for indoor infestations, but states like bat-friendly Texas, Georgia, and Arizona aren't far behind, thanks to mosquito swarms, aggressive termites, and creepy crawlies hiding in walls, attics, and closets.'
If you're living in any of the states listed below, you can breathe a little bit easier. It's worth noting that a high risk rank actually correlates to a lower overall score on the scale of infestation probability:
50. Alaska – 17.58 (Risk Rank: 50 )
49. Wyoming – 23.01 ( Risk Rank: 49 )
48. Idaho – 23.11 ( Risk Rank: 41 )
47. North Dakota – 25.53 ( Risk Rank: 47 )
46. Montana – 26.03 ( Risk Rank: 46 )
45. Hawaii – 27.46 ( Risk Rank: 48 )
44. Maine – 30.36 ( Risk Rank: 43 )
43. Vermont – 31.09 ( Risk Rank: 45 )
42. Oregon – 31.15 ( Risk Rank: 40 )
41. South Dakota – 31.34 ( Risk Rank: 42 )
40. Utah – 32.21 ( Risk Rank: 31 )
39. Nevada – 33.70 ( Risk Rank: 28 )
38. New Mexico – 34.51 ( Risk Rank: 21 )
37. New Hampshire – 35.25 ( Risk Rank: 44 )
36. Washington – 35.28 ( Risk Rank: 37 )
35. Oklahoma – 35.75 ( Risk Rank: 25 )
34. Arizona – 36.64 ( Risk Rank: 12 )
33. Delaware – 36.68 ( Risk Rank: 39 )
32. Colorado – 36.87 ( Risk Rank: 30 )
31. Arkansas – 37.31 ( Risk Rank: 22 )
30. West Virginia – 38.52 ( Risk Rank: 36 )
29. Kansas – 38.91 ( Risk Rank: 32 )
28. Minnesota – 39.59 ( Risk Rank: 34 )
27. Michigan – 40.36 ( Risk Rank: 33 )
26. Tennessee – 40.40 ( Risk Rank: 18 )
As for the rest of you, we will not be gatekeeping this information in the least bit. Below you'll find the 25 states (from greatest risk to least) when it comes to the most vulnerable in America for indoor pest infestation. You can head over to Home Gnome for the state-by-state specifics. Good luck! Keep scrolling to see if your state is vulnerable for indoor pests in 2025:
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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Travelers Can Enjoy National Wellness Month At These Holistic Spas
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It's very gentle and does not strip all of the natural oils out of your skin, but it will leave you squeaky clean. I highly recommend this.' Another favorite of Dr. Snyder's, the Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub uses mineral-rich salts to buff away dry patches, while gigartina seaweed and shea butter nourish and moisturize. After just one use, your skin will feel baby-smooth. Key ingredients: Mineral salt blend, gigartina seaweed, shea butter, lavender oil Amazon rating: 4.3/5 An Amazon reviewer says: 'My absolute favorite body scrub. This is the first body scrub I've used that leaves my skin noticeably softer immediately after use. It smells amazing and reminds me of that spa-like scent. 100 percent recommend.' Keratosis pilaris—those pesky little bumps often found on arms—can be quite tricky to treat. That's why First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub has a loyal following. Even Dr. Snyder uses it, sharing, 'I reach for it whenever my arms need it. 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I highly recommend this product for anyone looking for small luxuries' If you want silky-smooth skin and to smell like a freshly baked cookie, let me introduce you to the Dove Brown Sugar and Coconut Butter Body Scrub. The recently-released product has a unique whipped texture that exfoliates and moisturizes as you scrub. And if coconut isn't your favorite fragrance, there's seven more delicious scents available. Key ingredients: Brown sugar, coconut oil, ¼ moisturizing cream Amazon rating: 4.7/5 An Amazon reviewer says: 'I recently tried the Dove Brown Sugar and Coconut Butter Body Scrub and it's quickly become one of my favorite skincare products! The texture is rich and creamy with just the right amount of exfoliation—it's not too harsh, but it leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth and refreshed. The scent is amazing—sweet, warm, and comforting, like a tropical dessert. It lingers on the skin without being overpowering. After using it, my skin feels deeply nourished, soft to the touch, and has a healthy glow. I also love that it doesn't leave a greasy residue in the shower like some other scrubs do. A little goes a long way' Powered by powdered bamboo stem, apricot seed, and essential oils, the Yonka Gommage Doux Silhouette is a creamy exfoliator that easily erases dead skin cells. Simultaneously, it hydrates with sesame seed oil, mango seed butter, and glycerin. However, it has unique cellulite control that helps firm and lift the skin. Key ingredients: Sesame seed oil, mango seed butter, vegetal glycerin, powdered bamboo stem, apricot seed When to use: Outside shower on damp or dry skin Yonka rating: 4.8/5 A Yonka reviewer says: 'I have used this a hand full of times now and I think it's a great product! I use it twice a week, a little goes a long way. It smells great and leaves my skin feeling smooth!' Even those with sensitive skin can benefit from a body scrub. The Nopalera Cactus Flower Exfoliant stands out mainly because it's grittier than others on this list and melts quickly into the skin for gentle exfoliation. Key ingredients: Safflower seed oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, nopal, tangerine oil When to use: Outside shower Nordstrom rating: 4.7/5 A Nordstrom reviewer says: 'Heard lots about Nopalera and the founder Sandra Velasquez so I could not wait to try it. Truly amazing product. I applied it from head to toe and was pleasantly surprised on how moisturizing it was and how well it penetrated even after drying off and no need to apply lotion. The glow was a bonus as my collar bone, shoulders and arms felt and looked amazing! It truly felt like a spa experience in a jar! The tangerine scent is mild and perfection for those of us who don't like heavy scents. This is a keeper!!' 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Those with thicker or oilier skin, or rougher areas like elbows and knees, can benefit from exfoliating two to three times a week. Dr. Snyder adds that the 'most critical step' is to 'immediately replenish your skin's barrier and infuse it with antioxidants using a body lotion.' She recommends Keys Soulcare's Sacred Body Lotion because it's enriched with chia seed oil, allantoin, and shea butter to deliver silky, fast-absorbing hydration and lock in essential moisture. As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, Emma Aerin Becker consulted a board-certified dermatologist to learn about the best body scrubs. She also tested them out, read through countless customer reviews, and evaluated each product based on its unique features. 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Newsweek
6 days ago
- Newsweek
Thousands Told To Avoid All Outdoor Physical Activity: 'Very Unhealthy'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of people across Northwestern Minnesota have been urged to remain indoors on Friday amid heavy wildfire smoke. Air quality officials have warned that the smoke that is causing "very unhealthy" conditions. Why It Matters The air quality alert highlights significant health threats, especially for sensitive groups such as those with respiratory or heart disease, children, and older adults. Fine particulate matter at the "very unhealthy" level affects everyone, not just vulnerable populations, and can trigger acute symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation, and chest discomfort. The advisory forms part of a broader pattern across the northern U.S., as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to affect health, air quality, and daily life. The recurring alerts mirror similar episodes in other states throughout this summer, with public health agencies emphasizing the dangers of airborne particulates. What to Know On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was expected to reach the purple category (between 201 and 300), or the very unhealthy level. The AQI is a standardized measure used to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. A stock photo of poor air quality in Minneapolis amid thick wildfire smoke from Canadian wildfires. A stock photo of poor air quality in Minneapolis amid thick wildfire smoke from Canadian wildfires. LMaru/Getty The AQI indicating the highest levels levels of pollution, for levels 301 and above, is the maroon category. A spokesperson from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) told Newsweek that the last air quality alert issued for the purple zone was June 6. "Historically, this is not a common occurrence for AQI alerts," the spokesperson said. "The first ever purple alert was issued in 2021. Then we had two in 2023, and two in 2025 so far." The regional alert affects northwest and north-central Minnesota, covering cities including Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, Brainerd, International Falls, and Roseau, as well as the Tribal Nations of Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake. The advisory remains active from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, with a second wave of smoke expected Friday evening and potentially into Saturday, according to the MPCA. Cleaner air is expected to move into the region from the west by Sunday afternoon, according to the MPCA's forecast. State health agencies warned the general public to avoid outdoor physical activity and stay indoors with windows closed. Sensitive individuals, including older adults, children, and those with heart or lung diseases—such as asthma—are at even higher risk and should especially limit any exertion. Reducing activities that contribute to air pollution, such as burning wood or unnecessary vehicle travel, is advised. What People Are Saying A National Weather Service (NWS) air quality alert issued in Minnesota on Friday: "Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in central Canada will move into northwest Minnesota early Friday morning behind a cold front. The first band of smoke will quickly move across northern Minnesota during the day Friday and reach northeast Minnesota by the evening." The alert added: "A second round of smoke will reach northwest Minnesota Friday evening. This round of smoke will be more widespread and may impact the northern half of the state on Saturday. The alert may need to be extended to cover the second round of smoke. Cleaner air will move into the state from the west on Sunday and air quality should improve beginning Sunday afternoon." What Happens Next The air quality alert remains in effect Friday, with potential extension into Saturday if the second wave of wildfire smoke proves significant. Cleaner air is projected to move into Minnesota from the west by Sunday afternoon, improving conditions by the start of the upcoming week. The MPCA is monitoring the situation and will update the public as necessary through its air quality index tool and website.
