Edmonton is booming with bed bugs. They arrived almost a decade ago and getting rid of the pests will not be easy.
Through an an access to information request filed by globalnews.ca, we have set up an interactive map below to let you see where the most reports have been made.
Just 5 years after arriving in the city, reports of bed bugs north of downtown were the worst in all of Alberta.
James Baxter of Birch Fumigators uses a bug-sniffing dog named Tigger to get to the problem.
“we do bed bug work everyday. We do k9 dog inspections everyday,” says Baxter.
The mess they leave behind is horrific and the bugs don’t discriminate between rich and poor.
“Bed bugs are very elusive. They come out at night and hide in the tiniest cracks and crevasses and they can get in behind our walls where we can’t see them, but the dogs can smell them.”
Gerard Leblanc has packed up every item of his apartment and sealed it up, even though his place has been cleared of bed bugs. He’s had to live out of a suitcase for more than a month.
“Most of the units don’t have bugs,” he says “it’s because of the proximity to a unit that does.”
Leblanc lives in a senior’s complex and that demographic seems to be hit especially hard.
“Our senior citizen’s population in Edmonton has had massive amounts of bed bug problems,” says Baxter.
The bed bugs at Leblanc’s complex were first discovered in January. Two sprays and several dog inspections later, it’s taking it’s toll on the seniors.
Liberal leader Raj Sherman says Edmonton’s bed bug crisis is a symptom of senior neglect.
“Government is responsible for the policy and funding. And management is responsible for doing the work.”
What is known is that the bed bug problem is not going away anytime soon.
You can see how many bed bug complaints there were in your neighbourhood by entering your address in the map below.
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