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A new list by pest control company Orkin says Oshawa has one of the biggest bed bug problems in the country.

Their 2019 list of the top bed bug cities in Canada has put Oshawa at number eight one of six Ontario cities to make the top 10.

Toronto took the top spot, with other urban centres like Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa not far behind.

Whitby also made the top 25, coming in at number 20.

Branch Manager for Orkin Durham Region, Kevin Shanahan says bed bugs are travellers, so theyre common in large cities and urban areas.

He says there are things renters can look for that could tip them off about possible bedbugs issues.

If theres a lot of turnover in the building, if its a high-density location The higher the volume of people, the bigger the potential for bed bug problems, he said. Theyre hitchhikers, so a lot of multi-dwelling places have more problems (the individual homes).

Shanahan says hotels and motels are common sources of bed bugs and if youre not careful, you can bring them into your home.

He adds that the best practice is to take a look around any hotel room before you get settled.

You can look around the seams of the bed and you might see blood stains, said Shanahan. There could be fecal matter around the bed, which are pepper-like droppings. You could even possibly see a live bed bug, which is about the size of an appleseed.

Shanahan says the most common place he finds bed bugs is behind or near the beds headboard.

If youre worried about bringing bed bugs back from vacation, Shanahan suggests immediately putting all your clothes and towels in the dryer at a high, hot temperature.

Its also not a bad idea to leave your empty luggage in a garage or shed for a few days after you return.

He says another common origin of bed bugs is second-hand furniture.

He says he sees many infestations that are sparked by bugs inside furniture that was bought at a yard sale or picked from the trash (something Shanahan strongly discourages).

Read Orkins full list below:

1) Toronto, Ont.2) Winnipeg, Man.3) Vancouver, B.C.4) St. Johns, Nfld.5) Ottawa, Ont.6) Scarborough, Ont.7) Halifax, N.S.8) Oshawa, Ont.9) Sudbury, Ont.10) Hamilton, Ont.11) Windsor, Ont.12) Edmonton, Alta.13) Montreal, Que.14) North York, Ont.15) Moncton, N.B.16) Calgary, Alta.17) Mississauga, Ont.18) Etobicoke, Ont.19) Burnaby, B.C.20) Whitby, Ont.21) London, Ont.22) Saskatoon, Sask.23) Peterborough, Ont.24) Nepean, Ont.25) Dartmouth, N.S.

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Oshawa is the eighth-worst place in Canada for bed bugs, Whitby makes top 25: Orkin - durhamradionews.com

An annual ranking of top Canadian cities for bedbugs has been released and Vancouver has itched its way into third place.Mark van Manen / Vancouver Sun

An annual ranking of Canadian cities for bedbugs shows Vancouver has itched its way into third place.

On the 2019 list released by Orkin Canada, Vancouver is bested only by Toronto in first place and Winnipeg in second. St. Johns follows in fourth and Ottawa in fifth.

The only other B.C. city to make it to the top 25 is Burnaby, coming in at 19.

As in previous years rankings, larger cities and travel hot spots populated the top of the list, with bed bugs reported in both clean and dirty homes, and office buildings. According to the pest control experts, bed bugs were a rarely experienced irritant just 20 years ago, but have become a common problem in urban centres.

Signs of a bed bug infestation include tiny, dark coloured spots or stains or cast skins. The critters are often spotted in and around mattress tags or in seams, under seat cushions, behind headboards, creases of furniture, buckling wallpaper and carpets.

The ranking is based on the number of commercial and residential bed bug treatments carried out by the company between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019.

1. Toronto2. Winnipeg3. Vancouver4. St. Johns5. Ottawa6. Scarborough7. Halifax8. Oshawa9. Sudbury10. Hamilton11. Windsor12. Edmonton13. Montreal14. North York15. Moncton16. Calgary17. Mississauga18. Etobicoke19. Burnaby20. Whitby21. London22. Saskatoon23. Peterborough24. Nepean25. Dartmouth

When travelling, dont put clothing or luggage on the bed, which allows the bugs, if present, to climb in.

Use metal luggage racks to keep suitcases off the carpet and away from walls or wooden furniture. (The bugs cant climb metal surfaces very well.)

Use plastic bags to pack clothing. This prevents the spread of bed bugs if they do happen to hitch a ride in your suitcase.

Its rare but bed bugs can thrive not just in hotels, but also on airplane and train seats, buses and rental cars.

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Vancouver ranked third most popular city for bed bugs in Canada in 2019 - Vancouver Sun

Although bed bugs dont pose any serious health concerns they do live and hide in the areas where we sleep. They are mostly found in bedding, mattresses, on headboards and in bed frames and box springs. Due to their size and nocturnal nature bed bugs can easily go undetected. Dark spots and small blood stains may indicate the presence of bed bugs. Bed bugs also give off a sweet musty odour and will often leave their eggs and molted skins near areas they have infested.Good housekeeping may not eliminate the problem.Even upscale hotels are not immune bed bugs can thrive in a spotlessly clean room. Bed Bug infestations are difficult to deal with, and success depends on the thoroughness of the preparation, treatment and the follow-up. One of the most important steps in effective bed bug control is the accurateidentification of bed bugs presencebefore starting any treatments. Home remedies, available in stores, are not very effective getting rid of a bed bug infestation. If you do choose to use an over-the-counter insecticide, make sure to read the label closely and follow directions. Your best course of action is to immediately contact your local Orkin Canada branch as we have extensive experience dealing with bed bugs.Pest control professionals administer the most effective treatments. It is advised that anyone with a suspected bed bug infestation contact their local expert to arrange an inspection and consultation.

There is no way to prevent bed bugs entirely; however, experts agree that early detection is the best way to prevent them from establishing themselves. A bed bug dog is your best tool for early detection. To prevent bed bug infestations you need to be vigilant in examining your surroundings. When returning from a trip, or a night out check both your clothing and luggage. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, contact a pest control professional. This is not a pest that can be controlled with do-it-yourself measures.

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal and very difficult to detect. They are also very rugged insects and that can live for up to a year without feeding. They can hide in cracks and crevices and in hard to find spots and can withstand a temperature from almost freezing up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. All of these facts make treating bed bugs very difficult and should always be done by a professional pest control technician such as your local highly trained Orkin Canada Technician.

Short of inspecting your own or a guests luggage and belongings as they come in, there is no known way to completely prevent bed bugs from entering a property.And once they are inside, two bed bugs can lay up to ten eggs in one day. Thats why it is important to have any rooms with a bed bug problem treated immediately to prevent them from becoming a widespread infestation.

To address current infestations, Orkin Canada will provide an aggressive treatment strategy that includes a thorough inspection of areas of concern to locate harbourage sites, as well as treatment of both infested and potentially infested areas. Orkin Canada will also conduct a follow-up inspection to ensure that the treatment was effective.

The threat of bed bugs is always present but Orkin Canada is always ready. Armed with the best training in the industry plus over 100 years of experience and success Orkin professionals will provide training for your housekeeping and engineering staff on proactive bed bug measures. A favourite spot for bed bugs to hide is under the seams of box springs and mattresses. Orkin Canada will teach the housekeeping staff to inspect for bed bugs while servicing rooms and thus helping identifiybed bugs in hotels rooms.

An effective bed bug control strategy must start with an inspection. A highly trained pest control professional, such as your local Orkin Canada technician, would start with a thorough inspection of all known and suspected spots where bed bugs might be hiding. Bed bugs are not pests that can be effectively controlled by do-it-yourself means. If bed bugs are detected your pest control professional will develop a customized treatment and control strategy with you that depends on the size of the infestation.

Rising complaints about these unwelcome guests are leading to red faces at the reception desks of hotels and an increase in the number of help calls. Even though they dont pose a health threat, bed bugs, which live off human blood, can take a nasty bite out of a hotels reputation and business.

Orkin Canada recommends that you follow A.I.M. for the best results, when dealing with bed bug infestations.Assess the Situation:Your Orkin Canada Technician performs a thorough inspection of your home to locate any current bed bug infestations.Implement a customized treatment plan:Every bed bug problem is different; so is every treatment. Your Orkin Canada Technician is an expert on the entomology andlife cycle of bed bugsand uses the appropriate treatment to match the extent of your problem. To protect your family and pets, your technician uses integrated pest control methods safely applying products only when needed.Monitor Results:With our established Quality Assurance regimens we will document everything & follow-up. Bed bugs are extremely hardy. A return visit from your technician helps ensure the maximum effectiveness of your program. In addition, we offer protective mattress covers to help prevent future infestations.

If you suspect a bed bug problem, for best results, you should immediately contact a professional pest control company such as Orkin Canada and our highly trained technicians.

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How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs | Orkin Canada