Bed bugs are biting: Can Casper stop them?

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CASPER, Wyo. Christopher Stratton lives on the second floor at the Star Apartments. There is no artwork on his walls. He has no furniture, no bed. He sleeps on a military blanket and pillow on the floor. Since moving in on March 7, he claims he hasnt had a good nights sleep.

Strattons apartment is infested with bed bugs. Squished bodies of those hes killed stick to his walls. Festering open wounds cover his arms. The outlines of old bite marks are still visible on his neck.

Theyre hungry little buggers unfortunately, he said, surveying the apartment. Really, we didnt want to bring anything in.

Stratton has a girlfriend who lives at her grandparents' in Casper. She has two children. They dont bring them by the apartment.

Its hard to live that way, he said. Its not an environment that anyone should live in.

The number of reported bed bug cases in Casper is rising, according to the Casper-Natrona County Health Department. As Stratton's case demonstrates, there is little the city can do about it.

Stratton reported his case to the Health Department after a visit to the emergency room Saturday. The department took his complaint and said it would be in touch with the apartments management. He was offered this recommendation: Leave the apartment and go to the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter.

A cook at McDonald's who pays $600 a month to live at the Star Apartments, Stratton was insulted.

I have a job. Being told I should go to a homeless shelter, he said, Id rather see the problem fixed.

John Drinnon, environmental health division director for the Health Department, called Strattons case pretty alarming, but said there was not much his department could do.

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Bed bugs are biting: Can Casper stop them?

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