Infestations Of Bed Bugs Are On The Rise In Calgary
Bed bugs. Not long ago, the idea of bed bugs for people in Canada was something most people only heard about and referred to as part of a bed-time rhyme. Sure, bed bugs were around. Evidence shows they have been around longer than man has, and their infestation levels have fluctuated throughout the centuries. But, occurrences were so rare over the last 50 years that bed bug infestations became one of those, near mythological things that only ever happened to someone else, that someone once heard about, that one time.
In the last 20 years, bed bug infestations have increased exponentially throughout many parts of the world, Canada included. The rise happened so quickly that our society has not had a chance to adapt to their presence. Bed bugs have now reached the status of an extremely common pest, and yet most people know very little about them. A lot of people couldn’t even tell you what a bed bug looks like.
Because their speedy rise was unexpected, and therefore not accompanied with any education, or information, a great many myths and bits of misinformation soon followed. All of this means people are generally unprepared, scared and very overwhelmed when they suddenly have to face a bed bug problem of their own.
So, just how common are bed bugs in Calgary? They are more common than you might think. If you start to ask around, you will find very few people who haven’t at least heard of a friend, friend of a friend, or coworker who has had a personal encounter or experience with bed bugs. Recent data suggests that in urban centres like Edmonton and Calgary, that nearly 1 in every 50 households can expect to deal with bed bugs in 2020. That projection increases to 1 in every 20 for multi-unit structures such as apartment buildings and senior’s residences. And 1 in every 10 households for low-income, multi-unit structures. Any place where people sleep regularly is a possible home and breeding ground for bed bugs, and bed bugs can be transferred or moved around on clothing, luggage, furniture and accessories like handbags, back packs, or briefcases. As such, all business that deal in providing accommodation or lodging, whether temporary or permanent, have added regular bed bug inspections as well as procedures for how to deal with bed bugs, into their normal pest management operations.
There are many theories as to what has caused this unprecedented rise in bed bug infestations, but nothing conclusive has been determined. The most supported theory among entomologists, and pest management professionals is that it was a combination of factors that led to bed bugs reaching this epidemic level. Factors such as a lack of general education and information for the public, increased travel (both local and international), and a continued trend towards more targeted, less broad spectrum pesticide use over the last couple of decades.
Health Canada released the following information and graphics to help encourage people to be more proactive in stopping the spread of bedbugs, especially when using hotels and motels.
One of the most frustrating facts about bed bug prevention, is that most of the power to prevent the spread of bed bugs resides with those who already have bed bug infestations. If you have bed bugs, there are a number of things that you can do to prevent spreading them to others. Unfortunately, human nature in western cultures tends to err on the side of self-preservation, and those with bed bugs are often unwilling to take these steps because they already have bed bugs, and feel there’s little point in taking preventative actions. We also see this kind of attitude with things like the common cold. The people with the most power to prevent the spread of the common cold, are those who already have it. Yet, studies have shown that once people know they have a cold, they are less likely to take preventative steps like regular hand washing or wearing a surgical mask to prevent the spread because they feel there’s no point if they already have it. Eastern cultures tend to think more altruistically when it comes to prevention.
If you have bed bugs in your home, taking some, or all, of the following steps will go a long way towards preventing the spread of bed bugs to others:
Don’t be embarrassed, it’s not your fault
If you rent, let your landlord or property manager know as soon as possible. If you own, call in a professional to deal with the problem as soon as possible.
If possible, don’t change your sleeping patterns, or locations.
Make sure you are using sheets on your bed, and that you are washing/changing them regularly.
Have a set of night clothes or pajamas that you wear to bed, and change out of those clothes before leaving the bedroom in the morning. (i.e. don’t go out to the kitchen for morning coffee while still wearing your night clothes or pajamas that you slept in.)
Keep dirty clothing separate from clean clothing, and keep all clothing off the floor. If you use your night clothes or pajamas for more than one day in a row, they should be left on your bed in between uses.
When you transport laundry to and from the washer/dryer, it should be in a closed bag rather than a hamper, box or basket.
Don’t get rid of any large items or furniture without first consulting with a pest management professional on whether it needs to be discarded, when it should be discarded and how to properly discard it, if needed.
Wash and shower/bathe regularly.
At work, school or when visiting, always hang up coats, scarves, sweaters and jackets whenever possible, and separate from other’s if possible. Don’t lay them on people’s beds, sofas, or floors.
Consult a pest management professional before using any of your own pesticide sprays, or applying products like Diatomaceous Earth. If used or applied incorrectly, these products can make the problem worse, or be harmful to people and pets in the home. Yes, even “Green” products can be harmful if not used or applied correctly. Green, does not mean, “safe no matter what under any circumstances”. Though, this is what a lot of people apparently think of products labelled or marketed as green products.
Lastly, along with the sudden rise in bed bug infestations, came a boom in bed bug treatment companies and methods. There are now a huge number of companies and individuals who are eager to take your money in a bid to rid you of your bed bugs. Not all companies are equal, and there is no such thing as a single type of treatment that will work in every situation. Always do your research. I recommend getting quotes and information from at least 3 different companies. Actually talk to these companies whenever possible, don’t rely on text or email alone. These people will be doing important work in the most intimate areas of your home, with your health and well being on the line. You need to have a good feeling about any company you choose for this type of job. Pay attention to how much care they give to how they approach the situation, what kind of guarantee or warranty they offer for their services, what kind of preparation may be involved prior to treatment, and how long you and your pets will need to be out of the home for, following the treatment. Use your instincts and common sense. Price IS important, but when it comes to peace of mind, quality workmanship, and the health and safety of your pets and family, the cheapest is rarely the best option. All companies set their prices based on different factors and approaches. Remember, you are paying for experience, training, knowledge, skill, warranty and comprehensive service. All companies have the same equipment and materials available to them. Killing a bug is easy. Safely, and effectively eliminating ALL the bugs in your home, with the least amount of impact on you, your family and the environment, and done in a way that instills confidence and peace of mind…. That takes experience, skill, dedication and passion.
You can Click Here, to read more about different bed bug removal methods as well as how we do things at Lavellan Pest Solutions.