Saturday, November 27, 2010

Bedbugs-- A 21st Century Plague

You will notice that I did not include the disgusting photo that comes along with most comments on bedbugs, more for my sake than yours.  Yechhhh.  Years ago when I was a very little girl my mother was invited to stay at a long-lost cousin's farm after a reunion B-B-Q.  We both woke up itching and scratching.  Needless to say we did not take a second night's lodging. 
A few days ago I read an article about the dramatic increase of bedbugs in Canada since the year 2000 but have been unable to find it anywhere.  It said that there were no infestations reported in Canada prior to that 2000 but that it has climbed to epidemic proportions in the decade since.  Other reports cite reasons for the increases such as the ban on DDT, recent changes in allowable pesticides in Canada and increased international travel. Stats on immigration do not seem to point the blame there though.
    An article in the Leader Post recently quoted the manager of a pest control service as saying "If you were to go to New York City and stay in a hotel right now, I'd give you a 90-per-cent guarantee that you're going to bring bed bugs home."  He went on to say that this is an emerging problem for Saskatchewan and this year is the worst bed bug year he's ever seen in Regina and he's been in the business for 25 years.
So brace yourself folks, if you think having your kids come home with lice was bad, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
   On the positive side?  EVERYONE will have them!  The stigma will be gone and no one will have to be afraid to use their normal voice when phoning the exterminator.  If indeed this is trending it's also a job opportunity.... go ahead and enroll in Pest Control School so that you are yours will be able to sleep better at night for years to come.

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