PORT ALBERNI — The return of summer brings back an unwanted guest: bed bugs.
The brown parasite has become an issue over the past 10 years on Vancouver Island, where numbers are on the rise.
B.C. Bedbug Expert partner Tina Slauenwhite said the business received 15 calls from Alberni Valley clients in just two weeks. She said the calls were for houses and apartment buildings.
“The busiest bed-bug season is right around summertime,” she said.
She noted that bed bugs have been found in B.C. libraries, courthouses, public transportation and even on ferries.
“Bed bugs move around because of people,” she said.
The parasitic insects feed exclusively on blood, usually without being noticed by their hosts: humans. They’re active mainly at night but are not exclusively nocturnal, and love to hang out in beds or other sleep areas.
Port Alberni’s BBH Properties president Haddon Bush is dealing with a bed-bug problem. His company owns six rental properties comprising 151 apartments.
“We’re aware of one apartment having a bed-bug problem,” he said. “We will treat it.”
Bush said his company takes bed bugs very seriously and is in the process of putting together a treatment program that will be available to all tenants for free. He expects the program to be up and running by the end of July.
“We are doing everything we can to be proactive,” Bush said.
He noted that used furniture and clothing can bring bed bugs into a building, which is why he discourages tenants from acquiring them. Bed bugs can also be brought in by pets, wild animals and other visitors.
Slauenwhite said the best tip she can give people who do not want to bring bed bugs into their homes is to use their dryers for preventive treatments.
“Put clothing, purses and anything that will go and fit in your dryer on high for 30 minutes,” she said.
Research has shown bed bugs can survive a wide range of temperatures. However, when exposed to a temperature of 46 C, they will die in seven minutes.
