Ottawa places fifth on Orkin Canada’s list of “bed buggiest” cities

The nation’s capital has made the top ten list of “bed buggiest” cities in Canada.

Ottawa placed fifth on the list while Toronto takes the top spot for the seventh straight year.

Sudbury, Oshawa and Hamilton placed second, third and fourth respectively.

Pest control company Orkin Canada says cities are ranked by the number of bed bug treatments it performed from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, and the rankings include both residential and commercial treatments.

The top 10 is as follows:

  1. Toronto
  2. Sudbury
  3. Oshawa
  4. Hamilton
  5. Ottawa
  6. Vancouver
  7. Winnipeg
  8. St. John’s
  9. Sault Ste. Marie
  10. Scarborough

“As we’ve seen travel return to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians should be on guard for bed bugs, as these pests are extremely resilient and can hitchhike from place to place unnoticed and with ease,” said Dr. Alice Sinia, an entomologist with Orkin Canada. “Known as expert hitchhikers, bed bugs cling to clothing, luggage and furniture to invade new spaces, stowing themselves in baseboards, electronics, bedding, wallpaper, wall hangings and sofas.”

As spring rolls in, Orkin Canada reminds homeowners and travellers to take precautions against bringing bed bugs back with them.

You’re encouraged to be vigilant and stay on the lookout for signs and traces of bed bugs in order to avoid infestations. While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, Orkin Canada says they are cryptic and excellent at hiding, making them difficult to control.

Having a trained professional intervene at the first sight of a bed bug is highly recommended.

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