Bed bug monitoring at UNBSJ continues

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Two buildings on the University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus have recently been treated for bed bugs, officials with the university report.

In a statement, vice-president of administration and finance Bill Best said earlier this week the university “heard a number of concerns regarding bed bugs on the Saint John campus. In response to each report we received, we contracted Orkin to investigate and, if needed, provide appropriate remediation, including surface-based treatment approved for use in Canada. Orkin did not find any signs of bed bugs in its investigations today, and no treatments were required.”

However, Best added, over the past month the pest control company did find bedbugs in the Hans W. Klohn Commons and Oland Hall. Both were closed, treated and deemed cleared by Orkin before reopening, he said.

“We recognize that there have been concerns expressed about our Saint John residences. As a best practice, we have Orkin engaged to monitor residences on a regular basis. In addition, when a bed bug concern is raised, Orkin does a more precise investigation. Orkin has not detected bed bugs in our residences,” the statement added.

Marcia Seitz-Ehler, interim director of communications for UNB, told Brunswick News via email Friday there has been daily monitoring of the Saint John campus spaces by Orkin “and they have not detected any bed bugs on our Saint John campus this week.”

“There have been concerns expressed about our Saint John residences. As a best practice, we have Orkin engaged to monitor residences on a regular basis. In addition, when a bed bug concern is raised, Orkin does a more precise investigation. Orkin has not detected bed bugs in our residences,” she added.

Rick Barrett, owner of ABC Pest Services in Saint John, said he’s been in pest control for 30 years and is no stranger to bed bugs. He said the small bugs don’t jump or fly, but they can reproduce quickly which is why addressing any concerns about them quickly is important.

“They crawl and what will happen with bed bugs is people are sleeping on a bed that has bugs and, eventually, those bugs will travel,” he said. “They are curious, and they’ll wander around looking for food. They actually feed on carbon dioxide so if someone’s sleeping in a bed the bug knows they’re asleep and they’ll begin feeding.”

Barrett said the bugs multiply quickly with a female laying anywhere between two to six eggs a day. They do not carry disease, he noted, but they do bite and can cause rashes and are annoying and can be overwhelming. And, he added, their name is a bit of a misnomer as they’re not found only in beds, they can be easily transferred to various furniture, clothing and more because of their transient and curious nature.