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REGIONAL PEST REPORT

Winter season

Pest threat

Mice are moving inside and other wildlife may be looking for potential harbourage areas. Cluster flies have hibernated in attics and wall voids. As the temperature fluctuates keep your eyes and ears open for the signs and sounds of unwanted pests this winter. Carpenter ant activity may be seen in the home where moisture is found on a warmer day.

 

Stay alert

Get more info on local pests

Avoid bed bug souvenirs when traveling

WWW.NEWSCANADA.COM

Read the original article online here.

Vacation is a time to relax and unwind, but many travelers find it hard to do so with the thought of being bitten by bed bugs, or worse, traveling home with them as an unwanted souvenir.

While these small pests – about the size of an apple seed – aren't known to spread disease, they can cause increased stress, painful bites and infections. Bed bugs can spread quickly throughout your home if they hitch a ride on your luggage or other personal belongings. 

“Examine your luggage while repacking and when you return home from a trip,” says 25–year pest management veteran Dan Dawson, manager of marketing for Orkin PCO Services. “Bed bugs are only half a centimetre when fully grown, and can easily hide in the corners of suitcases or in the folds of clothes.”

Take additional precautions on vacation to ensure bed bugs don't become souvenirs:

• Look for small brown or red stains on sheets, and itchy, bloody welts on the skin.

• Check for bed bugs along mattress seams and tags, behind baseboards and headboards, and examine furniture and window treatments near the bed.

• Elevateyour belongings on a luggage rack away from the bed and wall, where bed bugs often hide behind picture frames and electrical outlet panels.

• After traveling, immediately place all clothing in the clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes, and keep any luggage outside of the living space – preferably in the garage.

Bed bugs can quickly infest your home and are extremely difficult to treat without the proper oversight of a skilled professional. If you suspect bed bugs, Dawson recommends working with a licensed pest management provider experienced in identifying and treating these pests.