Is Rat Tourism Coming to Minneapolis?

This may seem like a bizarre subject to even bring up, but as some people would say, "I swear, it's a thing!".

A recent Thrillist article indicates that rat tourism could be "The Next Squeaky Little Trend in Travel"! Thrillist is a website that deals with all aspects of travel from guides and destinations, to food, accommodations, current travel trends, recommendations, and more.

The article revealed that in cities as diverse as New York City and Brussels, Belgium, rat tourism has indeed become a growing trend. The reason for this is, unfortunately, the growth in the rat population across the globe.

Orkin's most recent "2023 Rattiest Cities List" included Minneapolis. The news wasn't good for Minneapolis because it is slowly climbing the list of rattiest cities instead of going down.

Last year Minneapolis placed 12th on the list and this year it came in 11th which means the number of rats continues to grow in the city.

Thanks to (what else), TikTok -  people are flocking to participate in "rat tours" in the top 3 rat-infested cities in America. Rat tourism is so good in Brussels, that they built a whole exhibit entitled "Rattus" in their Sewer Museum.

Yes, that is a real thing too. You can spend some time living as a rat in a sewer as part of the Rattus experience.

You may have heard of Chicago's "rat hole" which people think is the image of a rat trapped in cement on a Chicago sidewalk. (No, the image above is not the "rat hole"). It is so popular that they are bussing people to see the bizarre tourist "rat trap" (as it were).

So I ask the question again, can rat tourism be far behind in Minneapolis?

Orkin's Top 20 Rattiest Cities 2023

1. Chicago
2. Lost Angeles
3. New York
4. Washington, D.C.
5. San Francisco
6. Philadelphia
7. Baltimore
8. Denver
9. Detroit
10. Cleveland/Akron
11. Minneapolis
12. Seattle
13. Boston
14. Atlanta
15. Indianapolis
16. Pittsburgh
17. Hartford
18. Columbus, Oh
19. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
20. Houston

Source: Thrillist and Orkin